FREE VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONALLY GRADED STEPPED CYLINDRICAL SHELLS USING THE CONTINUOUS ELEMENT METHOD

Abstract

This research presents a continuous element model for solving vibration
problems of functional graded (FG) stepped cylindrical shells (SCS). Based on the
First Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) and the equations of the FG
cylindrical shells, the dynamic stiffness matrix is obtained for each segment of the
shell having constant thickness. The interesting assembly procedure of continuous
element method (CEM) is employed for joining those segments in order to analyze
the dynamic behavior of the FG cylindrical. Free vibrations of different
configurations of FG stepped cylindrical shells are examined. Effects of the power-
law exponent p, FG materials properties on the free vibration of FG stepped
cylindrical shells are also presented. The advantages of Continuous Element
model are confirmed in terms of precision as well as its performance when dealing
with complex FG structures.