Abstract : We are interested in the layer-wise modeling of composite cylindrical shell structures based on a variable separation method. The present study is focused on the use of a multiresolution strategy to decrease the computational cost ofumerous analyses where some parameters can change. For this purpose, the displacement field is approximated as a sum of separated functions of the in-plane coordinates and the transverse coordinate. Thus, an iterative process that consists of solving a two-dimensional (2D) and a one-dimensional problem successively at each iteration is required. In the thickness direction, a fourth-order expansion in each layer is considered. For the in-plane description, a classical finite
element method is used. In our framework of a multiresolution process, once a first computation is achieved, the previously built 2D functions can be used. Thus, the following problems to be solved can be limited to a one-dimensional problem. If needed, only few 2D functions might be built. The approach is assessed through mechanical tests on L-angle specimens by comparing with a quasi–three-dimensional layer-wise approach. It is illustrated by varying the geometry and the stacking sequences of the shell.
