Large deflection analysis of conical head pressure vessels

Abstract

The present work investigates the nonlinear behaviour at and near the junction of cylindrical and conical shells under internal or external pressure. The results are useful for studying conical head pressure vessels and components of missiles, spacecrafts, underwater vessels, nuclear reactors, etc.Reissner's basic concept for the large deformation of axisymmetric shells, with proper modification and specialization, are used in the derivation of the governing equations for the present problem. The nonlinear differential equations are then solved by the multisegment method of integration developed byKalnins andLestingi. Results of this analysis indicate that the linear theory is very inadequate and conservative in its prediction of stresses and deformations in the region of the junction of the cylindrical and conical parts. In this analysis the tip of the conical part, where present, is assumed to be replaced by a very small spherical cap meeting tangentially with the conical part, in order to avoid singularity and to render the solution more realistic.