Finite element buckling analysis of laminated composite stiffened shells

Abstract The paper presents finite element buckling analysis of laminated stiffened plates and stiffened cylindrical shells using modified approach of shell and stiffener modelling. An eight noded isoparametric quadratic element for the shell and a three noded curved stiffener element for the stiffeners on the concept of equal displacements at the shell- stiffener junction is used in the analysis. In the present formulation, stiffener can be placed anywhere within the shell element and obviates the constraints of aligning the mesh lines along the stiffeners. The buckling analysis of stiffened and unstiffened laminated structures subjected to various loading cases has been studied and the results are compared with the published ones.

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