Semi-Analytical Modeling and Free Vibration Analysis of Joined Conical–Cylindrical Shells with Axially Stepped Thickness

This study develops a semi-analytical method for free vibration analysis of joined conical–cylindrical shell with axially stepped thickness. The computational framework is built through the domain decomposition method, artificial spring technology and shear deformation shell theory. Kinematic admissible functions are constructed via superposition of Chebyshev orthogonal polynomials and trigonometric series. Subsequently, the Rayleigh–Ritz method is employed to solve for the system’s characteristic frequencies. The accuracy of the method is further verified by the excellent agreement between the current results and those from published studies and finite element simulations. Ultimately, the influence of boundary conditions, structural parameters and stepped thickness distribution on the free vibration characteristics of conical–cylindrical shells are systematically discussed. These findings reveal the critical methodological constraints in free vibration modeling of stepped thickness shell systems, thereby advancing vibration design optimization for the stepped thickness structures.