Clamped Saddle Shells of Laminated Composites: Effect of Cutout on Natural Frequency and Mode Shapes

Abstract

Clamped saddle shells made of laminated composite materials in presence of stiffeners and cutouts are analyzed 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 find natural frequency and mode shapes of stiffened shells and 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.