Dynamic analysis of composite cylindrical shells using differential quadrature method (DQM)

Free vibration analysis of composite cylindrical shells with different boundary conditions is presented in this paper using differential quadrature method (DQM). Equations of motion are derived based on first order shear deformation theory taking the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia terms into account. By applying the differential quadrature formulation and the required modified relationships for implementing the different boundary conditions, equations of motion of a circular cylindrical shell are transformed into a set of algebraic equations. By solving this algebraic system natural frequencies of circular cylindrical shells made of fibrous composite materials with different fibre angles are evaluated. The results thus obtained are then compared with some available results and a good agreement is observed. In all the cases studied here efficiency, ease and usefulness of the DQM are well illustrated.