Simple solutions for buckling of laminated conical shells

Abstract Using Donnell-type shell theory a simple and exact procedure is presented for linear buckling analysis of laminated conical shells, with orthotropic stretching-bending coupling, under axial compressive load and external pressure. The solution is in the form of a power series in terms of a particularly convenient coordinate system. By analysing the buckling of a series of conical shells, under various boundary conditions and different material coefficients, the validity of the presented procedure is confirmed.