Dynamic instability characteristics of laminated composite doubly curved panels subjected to partially distributed follower edge loading

This paper deals with the study of vibration and dynamic instability characteristics of laminated composite doubly curved panels, subjected to non-uniform follower load, using finite element approach. First order shear deformation theory is used to model the doubly curved panels, considering the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia. The formulation is based on the extension of dynamic, shear deformable theory according to Sanders' first approximation for doubly curved laminated shells, which can be reduced to Love's and Donnell's theories by means of tracers. The modal transformation technique is applied to reduce the number of equilibrium equations for subsequent analysis. Structural damping is introduced into the system in terms of viscous damping. Instability behaviour of curved panels have been examined considering the various parameters such as width of edge load, load direction control, damping, influence of fiber orientation and lay up sequence etc. The results show that under follower loading the panel may lose its stability due to either flutter or divergence, depending on the system parameters.