The paper introduces a semi-analytical approach to analyze free vibration characteristics of stepped functionally graded (FG) paraboloidal shell with general edge conditions. The analytical model is established based on multi-segment partitioning strategy and first-order shear deformation theory. The displacement components along axial direction are represented by Jacobi polynomials, and the Fourier series are utilized to express displacement components in circumferential direction. Based on penalty method about spring stiffness technique, the general edge conditions of doubly curved paraboloidal shell can be easily simulated. The solutions about doubly curved paraboloidal shell were solved by approach of Rayleigh–Ritz. Convergence study about boundary parameters, Jacobi parameters et al. are carried out, respectively. The comparison with published literatures, FEM and experiment results show that the present method has good convergence ability and excellent accuracy.

In this paper, an efficient and unified approach for free vibration analysis of the moderately thick functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite annular sector plate with general boundary supports is presented by using the Ritz method and the first-order shear deformation theory. For the distribution of the carbon nanotubes in thickness direction, it may be uniform or functionally graded. Properties of the composite media are based on a refined rule of the mixture approach which contains the efficiency parameters. A modified Fourier series is chosen as the basic function of the admissible function to eliminate all the relevant discontinuities of the displacements and their derivatives at the edges. To establish the general boundary supports of the annular sector plate, the artificial spring boundary technique is implemented at all edges. The desired solutions are obtained through the Ritz-variational energy method. Some numerical examples are considered to check the accuracy, convergence and reliability of the present method. In addition, the parameter studies of the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite annular sector plate are carried out as well.

The aim of this paper is to extend the modified Fourier‐Ritz approach to evaluate the free vibration of four‐parameter functionally graded moderately thick cylindrical, conical, spherical panels and shells of revolution with general boundary conditions. The first‐order shear deformation theory is employed to formulate the theoretical model. In the modified Fourier‐Ritz approach, the admissible functions of the structure elements are expanded into the improved Fourier series which consist of two‐dimensional (2D) Fourier cosine series and auxiliary functions to eliminate all the relevant discontinuities of the displacements and their derivatives at the edges regardless of boundary conditions and then solve the natural frequencies by means of the Ritz method. As one merit of this paper, the functionally graded cylindrical, conical, spherical shells are, respectively, regarded as a special functionally graded cylindrical, conical, spherical panels, and the coupling spring technology is introduced to ensure the kinematic and physical compatibility at the common meridian. The excellent accuracy and reliability of the unified computational model are compared with the results found in the literatures.