629 Buckling Analysis of Laminated Composite Conical Shells : Effects of Axisymmetric Initial Imperfection

Abstract

The finite element method is applied to the nonlinear buckling analysis of laminated composite conical shells. The coupling effect of general laminates is considered in the stress-strain relation. The displacement field within each element is represented by Fourier circumferential components. The effects of axisymmetric initial imperfection on the buckling load of antisymmetric angle-ply laminated conical shells are investigated.