Three-dimensional solutions of laminated cylinders

Abstract A mixed finite-difference scheme is presented for the free vibration analysis of simply supported laminated orthotropic circular cylinders. The study is based on the linear three-dimensional theory of orthotropic elasticity, and the governing equations are reduced to six first-order ordinary differential equations in the thickness coordinate. In the finite-difference discretization two interlacing grids are used for the different fundamental unknowns in such a way as to reduce both the local discretization error and the bandwidth of the resulting finite-difference field equations. Numerical studies are presented of the effects of variations in the lamination and geometric characteristics of circular cylinders on their vibration characteristics. Also, the accuracy and range of validity of two-dimensional Sanders—Budiansky type shell theories are investigated.