A theory of laminated cylindrical shells consisting of layers of orthotropic laminae

The development of a general linear theory and the derivation of equations of motion for the analysis of laminated cylindrical shells consisting of layers of orthotropic laminae is presented. The classical Kirchhoff hypothesis of nondeformable normals commonly used for isotropic shells is abandoned so that compatible shear stresses and deformation between layers can be maintained. Transverse inextensibility of each layer is assumed; however, the normal stresses in the transverse direction are accounted for so that the peeling stresses between layers may be determined. The transverse coordinate a, when compared to the radius of the midsurface of each layered cylinder, is generally small; however, it is not neglected in the general derivation. The general procedure in the derivation is similar to that presented by Ambartsumian for orthotropic plates. However, the resulting governing differential equations are substantially more complicated than those for orthotropic plates.