Diversity between shell-like and beam-like regions for a cantilever cylindrical shell under follower forces

The effect of length and thickness on dynamic stability analysis of cantilever cylindrical shells under follower forces is addressed. Beckʹs, Leipholzʹs, and Haugerʹs problems were solved for cylindrical shells with different length-to-radius and thicknesses-to-radius ratios using the Galerkin method. First-order shear theory was used, and rotary inertias were considered in deriving the differential equations. Critical circumferential and longitudinal mode numbers and loads were evaluated for each case. Diagrams containing nondimensional load parameters vs. length and thickness parameters were plotted for each problem. For some shells with small length-to-radius ratios, flutter occurred in high longitudinal mode numbers where the first-order shear theory may not suffice to accurately evaluate the deformations. However, for long and moderately thick shells, there are ranges in which the shell can be analyzed using the simplified equivalent beam model.