LAUSR

A three-dimensional (3D) method of analysis is presented for determining the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of combined hemispherical–cylindrical shells of revolution with and without a top opening by the Ritz method. Instead of mathematically two-dimensional (2D) conventional thin shell theories or higher-order thick shell theories, the present method is based upon the 3D dynamic equations of elasticity. Mathematically, minimal or orthonormal Legendre polynomials are used as admissible functions in place of ordinary simple algebraic polynomials which are usually applied in the Ritz method. The analysis is based upon the circular cylindrical coordinates instead of the shell coordinates which are normal and tangent to the shell mid-surface. Strain and kinetic energies of the combined shell of revolution with and without a top opening are formulated, and the Ritz method is used to solve the eigenvalue problem, thus yielding upper bound values of the frequencies by minimizing the frequencies. As the degree of the Legendre polynomials is increased, frequencies converge to the exact values. Convergence to four-digit exactitude is demonstrated for the first five frequencies. Numerical results are presented for the combined shells of revolution with or without a top opening, which are completely free and fixed at the bottom of the combined shells. The frequencies from the present 3D Ritz method are compared with those from 2D thin shell theories by previous researchers. The present analysis is applicable to very thick shells as well as very thin shells.