Response of elliptical composite cylinders to a spatially uniform temperature change

The normal, circumferential, and axial displacements of elliptical composit e cylinders due to a spatially uniform temperature change are discussed. Th ree graphite-epoxy laminates, a quasi-isotropic [+/-45/0/90](s) laminate, a n axially stiff [+/-45/0(2)](s) laminate, and a circumferentially stiff [+/ -45/90(2)](s) laminate, 0 degrees being the axial direction, are studied. T he laminates are considered specially orthotropic. The thermally induced di splacement response is determined using an approximate approach based on th e Kantorovich technique and minimization of total potential energy. A speci fic cross-sectional geometry having a ratio of minor to major diameters of 0.7 is considered. It is shown that the displacements are characterized by the presence of a circumferential component, and a strong dependence on the lamination sequence and the boundary conditions at the ends of the cylinde rs. It is also illustrated that the characteristic length for the effects o f the boundary on the circumferential displacement is quite different than the characteristic length associated with the normal displacement. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.