Post-buckling behaviour of corrugated-edge shells: Numerical insights

Abstract

We provided the detailed buckling and post-buckling analysis of corrugated shallow spherical shells. Such shells are extensively used in civil and mechanical engineering. Here the main attention is paid to a corrugation as a key parameter affecting the instability. Three types of corrugation are introduced and discussed. The latter includes the following types: edge corrugated, half corrugated, and fully corrugated shells. Since the effect on instability is highly affected by the imperfections, a customised set of defects is proposed compared to a perfect structure. Several boundary conditions and load cases are analysed. An increase in the load multiplication factors highlights the effects of corrugation in shallow shells mechanics. Being inspired by the fascinating Nervi’s Flaminio dome in Rome, we introduce a novel way to improve the shells design against the instability effects.