Free vibration analysis of circular cylindrical shells

Abstract Determination of the vibrational characteristics of circular cylindrical shells often requires significant computational effort. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive, computer based, numerical investigation of the free vibration of circular cylindrical shells. An analytical procedure which accurately predicts the natural frequencies and radial mode shapes (corresponding to axial wave number and circumferential wave number both equal to one) for a wide range of circular cylindrical shells is developed. The procedure is applicable to shells either with or without a top closure. Several numerical examples are presented which illustrate application of the procedure and verify its accuracy.