Accurate analysis of end-loaded laminated orthotropic cylindrical shells

Semi-infinite laminated cylindrical shells subjected to axisymmetric end shear or end moment loading are analyzed here by a classical shell theory, a higher-order shear deformation theory and the three-dimensional (3-D) theory of elasticity. While the 3-D results are obtained using finite element method, results by the shell theories are obtained using analytical solutions. The corresponding predictions of the deformations and stresses due to localized bending in the neighborhood of the applied load are compared to show that the classical Love–Kirchhoff hypothesis leads to unacceptable errors while a shear deformation theory can be employed as a viable alternative to 3-D analysis without much loss of accuracy.