Abstract: The complexity of stability of thin circular cylindrical shells composed of composite materials is discussed and a survey is presented. The known theoretical results of the shells subjected to axial compression, external or/and internal pressure, torsion and their combinations are summarized and compared with the experimental ones. The emphasis is placed on the effect of geometrical and physical nonlinearity, initial imperfections, transverse shear deflection and prebuckling state on the buckling behaviour of laminated composite circular cylindrical shells. The dynamic stability, buckling propagation, elastic wave motion and other behaviour of this type shell are also introduced and discussed.At the end of this paper,recommended works for the future are also discussed.

Key words: composite structure, circular cylindrical shell, thin shell, stability