Free Vibrations of Combined Hemispherical–cylindrical Shells of Revolution With A Top Opening

A three-dimensional (3D) method of analysis is presented for determining the free vibration frequencies of joined hemispherical–cylindrical shells of revolution with a top opening. Unlike conventional shell theories, which are mathematically two-dimensional (2D), the present method is based upon the 3D dynamic equations of elasticity. Displacement components u_r, u_θand u_zin the radial, circumferential, and axial directions, respectively, are taken to be periodic in θ and in time, and algebraic polynomials in the r and z directions. Potential (strain) and kinetic energies of the joined shells 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 polynomials is increased, frequencies converge to the exact values. Convergence to four-digit exactitude is demonstrated for the first five frequencies. Natural frequencies are presented for different boundary conditions. The frequencies from the present 3D method are compared with those from 2D thin shell theories.