Nonlinear response of laminated cylindrical panels

The geometric nonlinear responses of laminated composite cylindrical panels subjected to (i) axial compression and (ii) central concentrated load are investigated in this work. The parameters considered are: number of layers, symmetric/antisymmetric laminate constructions, cross-ply/angle-ply fibre orientation, boundary conditions and central angle of panel. An eight-node degenerated layered shell element with an efficient explicit through-thickness integration scheme is employed. It has been observed that the cylindrical panels under axial compression exhibit stable post-buckling paths and the number of layers in the laminate for a given total thickness has considerable influence on the load-deflection behaviour. The strength of shallow panels with longitudinal edges hinged, curved edges free and subjected to a central concentrated load is controlled by the limit point load, whereas for deep panels with other parameters remaining the same, the strength is controlled by the bifurcation load. The boundary conditions have significant influence on the load-carrying capacity. The panels with longitudinal edges hinged and curved edges free should be avoided in construction, as they undergo either limit point or bifurcation failure at very low load levels compared with other edge conditions. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.