ABSTRACT
Shells are generally thin slender structures or light members of other constructions. Composites, characterized by high level of strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratio, can be seen as the most suitable materials for modern slender constructions. Typically composite shells are multilayered structures, in which laminas are made of isotropic materials or composites. Since most common composites are reinforced with uniaxial fibers, a single layer represents an orthotropic body. If the fiber orientation varies in the stacking sequence of layers, then the whole structure is an anisotropic medium. The anisotropy is an advantageous feature for design purposes but on the other hand it complicates the laminates’ analysis and as a consequence the design process becomes complex.
