Dynamic instability analysis of laminated composite cylindrical panels using the first order shear deformation layerwise theory and spline finite strip method

In this paper, layerwise plates theory presented by Reddy is used in order to analyze the dynamic instability of thick laminated composite cylindrical panels using the third order Bz-spline finite strip method. Parametric instability is a kind of instability under dynamic in-plane forces that change harmonically. The displacement field based on first-order shear deformation assumptions is incorporated into the layerwise theory. The principles of virtual work in conjunction with linear elastic properties of the orthotropic material are implemented to develop the governing equations. The natural frequencies and the critical buckling loads of cylindrical composite panels are calculated and the boundaries of the dynamic instability are extracted by using Bolotin first order approximation. The presented results include the effects of changes in boundary conditions, lay-up sequence, the length to thickness ratio and the curvature of the panel on the boundaries of dynamic instability frequency.