The free vibration characteristics of isotropic coupled conical-cylindrical shells based on the precise integration transfer matrix method

Based on the transfer matrix theory and precise integration method, the precise integration transfer matrix method (PITMM) is implemented to investigate the free vibration characteristics of isotropic coupled conicalcylindrical shells. The influence on the boundary conditions, the shell thickness and the semi-vertex conical angle on the vibration characteristics are discussed. Based on the Flügge thin shell theory and the transfer matrix method, the field transfer matrix of cylindrical and conical shells is obtained. Taking continuity conditions at the junction of the coupled conical-cylindrical shell into consideration, the field transfer matrix of the coupled shell is constructed. According to the boundary conditions at the ends of the coupled shell, the natural frequencies of the coupled shell are solved by the precise integration method. An approach for studying the free vibration characteristics of isotropic coupled conical-cylindrical shells is obtained. Comparison of the natural frequencies obtained using the present method with those from literature confirms the validity of the proposed approach. The effects of the boundary conditions, the shell thickness and the semivertex conical angle on vibration characteristics are presented.