A semianalytical finite element is used for the investigation of vibration behaviour of cantilever homogeneous isotropic circular cylindrical shells with variable thickness. Love's first approximation shell theory is used to solve the problem. Asymmetric vibration analysis has been conducted for shells of different types of thickness variation profiles. The thickness varies in the axial direction. The mass of the shell is made constant for a particular length to radius ratio. Numerical results are presented. © 1990.