On the buckling of composite shells of revolution under external pressure

Abstract The paper deals with the buckling analysis of axisymmetric fully clamped composite shells of revolution such as spherical caps, torispheres and hemispheres. Its first part is devoted to linear buckling analysis in order to determine the appropriate divisors for buckling pressures. Then, the effects of fibre orientation on buckling pressure calculated with the use of the BOSOR4 program are discussed for single-layered (angle-ply), two-layered and quasiisotropic composite shells made of unidirectional glass and carbon/epoxy resin. It is shown that the maximal buckling pressures occur for quasi-isotropic composite shells. The upper and lower bounds of buckling loads for arbitrary fibre orientations of composite torispheres and hemispheres are also proposed.