Approximate Formulas for Cylindrical Shell Free Vibration Based on Vlasov’s and Enhanced Vlasov’s Semi-Momentless Theory

Simple approximate formulas for the natural frequencies of circular cylindrical shells are presented for modes in which transverse deflection dominates. Based on the Donnell-Mushtari thin shell theory the equations of motion of the circular cylindrical shell are introduced, using Vlasov assumptions and Fourier series for the circumferential direction, an exact solution in the axial direction is obtained. To improve the results assumptions of Vlasov’s semimomentless theory are enhanced, i.e. we have used only the hypothesis of middle surface inextensibility to obtain a solution in axial direction. Nonlinear characteristic equations and natural mode shapes, are derived for all type of boundary conditions. Good agreement with experimental data and FEM is shown and advantage over the existing formulas for a variety of boundary conditions is presented.