A layerwise/solid-element method for the composite stiffened laminated cylindrical shell structures

For the composite stiffened laminated cylindrical shells, a layerwise/solid-element (LW/SE) method was established based the layerwise theory and the finite element method (FEM). In the present LW/SE method, the layerwise theory was used to model the behavior of the composite laminated cylindrical shells, and the eight-noded solid element is employed to discrete the stiffeners. And then, based on the governing equations of the shells and stiffeners, governing equation of the composite stiffened laminated cylindrical shells was assembled by using the compatibility conditions to ensure the compatibility of displacements at the interface between shells and stiffeners. To demonstrate the excellent predictive capability of this LW/SE method, several numerical examples were carried out to investigate the problem of static analysis and free vibration analysis for the composite stiffened laminated cylindrical shells. Good agreement had been achieved between the predictions and the results of finite element code MSC.Nastran. Furthermore, an analysis model for the composite shells structural systems reinforced by complex stiffeners, which is similar to the geometric form of the aircraft semi-monocoque fuselage structure, was developed based on the present coupling method. And the static response, natural frequencies and vibration modes were obtained.