Analysis of thin and moderately thick laminated shells including hygrothermal effects

Abstract

Laminated composite structures are gaining more attention nowadays due to newlineits enhanced properties such as high strength to stiffness ratio, high strength to weight newlineratio, improved toughness, better fatigue and creep strength in comparison to the newlineconventional materials. They offers excellent resistance to oxidation and corrosion. newlineLaminated composite shells are generally used in aerospace, civil, mechanical, marine newlineindustries and many more other engineering works. newlineA singly ruled, doubly curved, anticlastic parabolic conoids configurations are newlineaesthetically appealing. Conoids are structurally stiff and can be applied to cover newlinecolumn-free large space in aircraft hangars, industrial structures, and large assembly newlinehalls. Ruled surface conoids are preferred in various situations due to their easy casting newlineand assembling and it also allow easy passage of light. newlineDue to the remarkable properties of laminated composite and conoids, there is newlinerequirement of enhancing the existing level knowledge about conoids made of newlinelaminated composite. The conoids behavior differs from the usual shells like newlinecylindrical, spherical etc. due to its inherent twist curvature with the complex geometry newlineand different location of maximum deflection. A detailed study of their behavior and newlinecharacteristics under mechanical load has been presented to use the full potential of newlineconoidal shells. newlineLaminated composite shells with cutouts are used to modify the weight of a newlinestructural member, ventilation purpose, achieving the appropriate connection of newlinestructural components. Also, the concentrated mass is usually attached to reduce the newlinefundamental frequency to the desired value. Further, the cutouts and concentrated mass newlineare also required to avoid resonance conditions. During their service life, shell newlineelements are exposed to various types of transverse and in-plane mechanical loadings.