Modelling of curved interfaces in composite shells

Contact laws for thin curved interfaces in elastic multistructures have been established, within the framework of thin shell mechanics. Limit contact laws for the interface are obtained in a deductive manner, using an asymptotic expansion of the solution vs. the interface thickness. The limit solution is shown to depend on the ratio between the thickness of the shell and the radius of curvature of the mean plane of the shell. Different behaviours are evidenced, according to the scaling of the mechanical properties of the intermediate shell and the relative amount of curvature vs. thickness. The cases of very weakly curved shells, weakly curved shells, and strongly curved shells are highlighted. The effect of curvature on stress generation is evidenced, and the stress distribution is represented in some specific cases.