Nonlinear free vibration analysis of thermally post-buckled composite spherical shell panel

In this article, nonlinear free vibration behaviour of thermally post-buckled laminated composite spherical shallow shell panel is analyzed. The nonlinearity in geometry of the shell panel is considered in Green-Lagrange sense and the mathematical model is developed based on higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT). System of governing differential equations are derived using Hamilton's principle. A direct iterative method in conjunction with nonlinear finite element approach is used to solve the system of equations. Effects of various geometries and material properties on the nonlinear free vibration frequencies are examined in detail and discussed. Results are obtained using the present model and are compared with those available in literature. The difference between the results speaks the necessity and the requirement of the present model for the prediction of actual nonlinear characteristics of the laminated structures having severe nonlinearity in thermal environment.