Buckling analysis and design of anisogrid composite lattice conical shells

Composite lattice anisogrid shells have now become a popular choice in many aerospace applications. Their use in various structural components, such as rocket interstages, payload adapters for spacecraft launchers, fuselage components for aerial vehicles, and parts of the deployable space antennas requires the development of more advanced finite-element models and analysis techniques capable of predicting buckling behaviour of these structures under variety of loadings. A specialised finite-element model generation procedure (design modeller) is developed and applied to the buckling analysis of the composite anisogrid conical shells treated as three-dimensional frames composed of the curvilinear ribs made of unidirectional composite material. Featuring a dedicated control procedure for positioning the beam elements, the design modeller enables a close approximation of the original twisted geometry of the curvilinear ribs. The parametric finite-element buckling analyses of the anisogrid conical shells subjected to axial compression, transverse bending, pure bending, and torsion showed the robustness and potential of the modelling approach. It was demonstrated that the buckling resistance can be significantly enhanced by either increasing the stiffness of a few hoop ribs located in the close proximity to the section with the larger diameter, or by introducing the additional hoop ribs in the same part of the conical shell. The effectiveness of the design analyses is demonstrated using particular examples. It has been shown that the resultant optimised designs can produce up to 22% mass savings in comparison with the non-optimised lattice shells.

► Buckling of conical filament-wound composite lattice shells is investigated using FEM. ► Specialised algorithm (model generator/design modeller) is developed. ► Effectiveness of the design analysis is demonstrated using particular examples. ► Optimised designs deliver up to 22 per cent mass savings.