"Snap-through" Buckling of Laminated Cylindrical Shells at Finite Rotations

Abstract

This paper presents a finite element simulation and buckling analysis of layered composite structures. The shell element is based on the Reissner-Mindlin first-order shear deformation theory and the finite element method account for full geometric nonlinearity imposing large deformations and rotations. Finite rotations are treated by Rodrigues parameterization. The combinations of enhanced assumed strain (EAS) in the membrane strains and assumed natural strains in the shear strains are implemented to improve the shell element behavior. Stability analysis of anisotropic short open cylinder, layered cylindrical shells with different lamina sequenceand a hinged roof structure are presented including snap-through and snap-back problems. The present simulations are compared with those obtained by finite element analyses based on first-order transverse shear deformation moderate or large rotation or refined von Karman-type theories in earlier literature.