Abstract
This paper discusses the change of the natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes of an isotropic metallic curved panel subjected to combined internal pressure and axial compression. Tensor calculus is employed to devise the differential operator matrices of the geometrical relation in an orthogonal curvilinear reference system. In the framework of the Carrera unified formulation and by applying the finite element method, the principle of virtual work is used to describe the free vibration of a cylindrical shell subjected to progressive external loading conditions as a virtual procedure of the experimental test vibration correlation technique. Finally, numerical examples are provided, and the effects of the material and geometric characteristics are evaluated. The results show that crossing and veering phenomena between natural frequencies appear when varying the curvature of the panel and the value of the inner pressure, and those effects have to be taken into account for a proper design of this type of structure.