Buckling analysis of laminated cylindrical shells by 3-D multilayer hybrid element

A 3-D multilayer hybrid element is developed for the analysis of thick laminated plates and shells. The stresses are assumed independently in each sublayer element and the stress continuity between adjacent sublayers is applied to form the stress pattern of the multilayer element. Both interlaminar stress concentration and global structure response can be adequately predicted by the element model. The buckling analysis of orthotropic cylindrical shells under the external pressure is performed and the results show that the plane strain assumption is not applicable to the buckling of long orthotropic cylindrical shells.