Abstract
Wave based method which can be recognized as a semi-analytical and semi-numerical method is presented to analyze the free vibration characteristics of ring stiffened cylindrical shell with intermediate large frame ribs for arbitrary boundary conditions. According to the structure type and the positions of discontinuities, the model is divided into different substructures whose vibration field is expanded by wave functions which are exactly analytical solutions to the governing equations of the motions of corresponding structure type. Boundary conditions and continuity equations between different substructures are used to form the final matrix to be solved. Natural frequencies and vibration mode shapes are calculated by wave based method and the results show good agreement with finite element method for clamped-clamped, shear diaphragm – shear diaphragm and free-free boundary conditions. Free vibration characteristics of ring stiffened cylindrical shells with intermediate large frame ribs are compared with those with bulkheads and those with all ordinary ribs. Effects of the size, the number and the distribution of intermediate large frame rib are investigated. The frame rib which is large enough is playing a role as bulkhead, which can be considered imposing simply supported and clamped constraints at one end of the cabin and dividing the cylindrical shell into several cabins vibrating separately at their own natural frequencies.