• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.397-408
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• 2013

This paper deals with multiobjective optimization of symmetrically laminated composite truncated circular conical shells subjected to external uniform pressure load and thermal load. The design objective is the maximization of the weighted sum of the critical buckling load and fundamental frequency. The design variable is the fibre orientations in the layers. The performance index is formulated as the weighted sum of individual objectives in order to obtain optimal solutions of the design problem. The first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is used in the mathematical formulation of laminated truncated conical shells. Finally, the effect of different weighting factors, length-to-radius ratio, semi-cone angle and boundary conditions on the optimal design is investigated and the results are compared.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.89-103
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• 2012

In this study, the stability of laminated homogeneous and non-homogeneous orthotropic truncated conical shells with freely supported edges under a uniform hydrostatic pressure is investigated. It is assumed that the composite material is orthotropic and the material properties depend only on the thickness coordinate. The basic relations, the modified Donnell type stability and compatibility equations have been obtained for laminated non-homogeneous orthotropic truncated conical shells. Applying Galerkin method to the foregoing equations, the expression for the critical hydrostatic pressure is obtained. The appropriate formulas for the single-layer and laminated, cylindrical and complete conical shells made of homogeneous and non-homogeneous, orthotropic and isotropic materials are found as a special case. Finally, effects of non-homogeneity, number and ordering of layers and variations of shell characteristics on the critical hydrostatic pressure are investigated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.771-791
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• 2018

This paper deals with the low velocity impact response and dynamic stresses of composite sandwich truncated conical shells (STCS) with compressible or incompressible core. Impacts are assumed to occur normally over the top face-sheet and the interaction between the impactor and the structure is simulated using a new equivalent three-degree-of-freedom (TDOF) spring-mass-damper (SMD) model. The displacement fields of core and face sheets are considered by higher order and first order shear deformation theory (FSDT), respectively. Considering continuity boundary conditions between the layers, the motion equations are derived based on Hamilton's principal incorporating the curvature, in-plane stress of the core and the structural damping effects based on Kelvin-Voigt model. In order to obtain the contact force, the displacement histories and the dynamic stresses, the differential quadrature method (DQM) is used. The effects of different parameters such as number of the layers of the face sheets, boundary conditions, semi vertex angle of the cone, impact velocity of impactor, trapezoidal shape and in-plane stresses of the core are examined on the low velocity impact response of STCS. Comparison of the present results with those reported by other researchers, confirms the accuracy of the present method. Numerical results show that increasing the impact velocity of the impactor yields to increases in the maximum contact force and deflection, while the contact duration is decreased. In addition, the normal stresses induced in top layer are higher than bottom layer since the top layer is subjected to impact load. Furthermore, with considering structural damping, the contact force and dynamic deflection decrees.