Buckling resistance of joined composite sandwich conical-cylindrical shells with lattice core under lateral pressure

The main impetus of the present study is to investigate the buckling analysis of joined composite sandwich conical-cylindrical shells with reinforced lattice core subjected to external pressure via numerical and analytical approaches. The equivalent stiffness parameters of the lattice core have been determined by using an effective smeared technique and then superimposed with those of the skins in order to achieve the stiffness parameters of the whole structure. The theoretical formulation has been established based on the first-shear deformation theory and applying continuity conditions. Using power series technique, a highly accurate solution has been provided for evaluating the buckling load of the sandwich conical-cylindrical shells. The sandwich structures are made of two skins (inner and outer) and a middle lattice core composed of helical stiffeners. In addition, finite element analysis has been performed for validating the analytical model. Furthermore, the influences of several important design variables on the buckling characteristics have been investigated.

Automated summary

The present study investigates the buckling analysis of joined composite sandwich conical-cylindrical shells with reinforced lattice core subjected to external pressure. The stiffness parameters of the lattice core are determined using an effective smeared technique and combined with those of the skins. The theoretical formulation is based on first-shear deformation theory and continuity conditions. A highly accurate solution for evaluating the buckling load is provided using power series technique. Finite element analysis is performed to validate the analytical model, and the influence of important design variables on buckling characteristics is investigated.