Dynamic stability of cross-ply laminated composite cylindrical shells

The dynamic stability of thin, laminated cylindrical shells under combined static and periodic axial forces is studied using Love’s classical theory of thin shells. A normal-mode expansion of the equations of motion yields a system of Mathieu–Hill equations. Bolotin’s method is then employed to obtain the dynamic instability regions. The present study examines the dynamic stability of antisymmetric cross-ply circular, cylindrical shells of different lamination schemes. The effect of the magnitude of the axial load on the instability regions is also examined.