Stability and initial postbuckling behavior of shells made of composites. (Q2714614)

The authors provide a critical survey of papers dealing with stability investigation of composite shells and related problems. A theory of supercritical behaviour of elastic Coiter's structures in Bundjanskij version is outlined. In the framework of bifurcation statement of the problem the stability of shells is analysed in terms of the linearized equations of the elasticity theory. Estimated is the accuracy of two-dimensional versions of calculated shell models in determining the critical loadings. Stability problems are considered for the cylindrical shells under nonaxisymmetric loading, the shells with noncircular transversal cut, the laminated shells with nonperfect layer contacts and the composite shells deformed nonelastically. The effect of the mechanical properties of the composites on the initial supercritical behaviour of the shells is studied in terms of the theory due to the Timoshenko's hypotheses. The numerical results are referred to the cylindrical she! ! lls with various reinforcement schemes which are loaded by the axial or uniform surface pressure.