Point Supported Composite Stiffened Saddle Shells with Cutouts: Natural frequency and mode shapes

Abstract

Natural frequency and mode shapes of laminated composite stiffened saddle shells with cutouts are determined employing the eight-noded curved quadratic isoparametric element for shell with a three noded beam element for stiffener formulation. Free vibration problem of stiffened saddle shells with different size and position of the cutouts with respect to the shell centre are examined to arrive at some conclusions useful to the designers. The results are further analyzed to suggest guidelines to select optimum size and position of the cutout with respect to shell centre.