Vibration Characteristics of Point Supported Composite Hypar Shell Roofs with Cutout

Abstract

A general finite element formulation for the stiffened hyperbolic paraboloidal shells bounded by straight edges (commonly called as hypar shells) is attempted using eight-noded curved quadratic isoparametric element for shell with a three noded beam element for stiffener. Numerical problems of earlier investigators are solved as benchmark problems to validate the approach. A number of problems are further solved by varying the size of the cutouts and their positions with respect to the shell centre for cross ply and angle ply shells. The results are presented in the form of figures and tables. The results are further analyzed to suggest guidelines to select optimum size and position of the cutout with respect to shell centre for cross ply and angle ply shells.