Thermal stress analysis by refined multilayered composite shell theories

This paper considers the thermal stress uncoupled problem of multilayered composite shells. An assumed linear distribution of temperature through the thickness is considered for thick/thin cylindrical and spherical shells including carbon fiber reinforced layers and/or a central soft core. The Carrera's Unified Formulation (CUF) and the Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD) are extended to derive differential governing equations for the thermal analysis of shells with constant radii of curvature. Classical and refined two-dimensional models are treated in a unified form. Both Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) and Layer-Wise (LW) approaches are considered along with variable order of expansion in the thickness direction, from linear to fourth order. In the case of ESL, the typical zig-zag form of the displacement is accounted for via the Murakami's function. Classical models have also been considered for comparison purposes. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of refined models for a correct evaluation of displacements and stress field in laminated shells.