Free Vibration Analysis of Composite Conical Shells with Variable Thickness

Free vibration of conical shells of variable thickness is analysed under shear deformation theory with simply supported and clamped free boundary conditions by applying collocation with spline approximation. Sinusoidal thickness variation of layers is assumed in axial direction. Displacements and rotational functions are approximated by Bickley-type splines of order three and a generalized eigenvalue problem is obtained. This problem is solved numerically for an eigenfrequency parameter and an associated eigenvector of spline coefficients. The vibration of composite conical shells consisting of three layers and five layers where each layer is made up of different materials is analysed. Parametric studies are made for analysing the frequencies of the shell with respect to the coefficients of thickness variations, length ratio, cone angle, circumferential node number, and different ply angles with different combinations of the materials. The results are presented in terms of tables and graphs