Strength and stability of double cylindrical shell structure subjected to hydrostatic external pressure—Part I: strength

Abstract

This paper is the first part of the structure study of double cylindrical shell subjected to hydrostatic external pressure. A calculation method is put forward in the paper to analyse the massive structure strength of double cylindrical pressure shell. The equilibrium equations of double cylinder segments and ring plates are established by using the compatibility condition of orthogonal connection between inner and outer cylindrical shells through ring plates. The equilibrium equations set of cylinder segments may be integrated into the global equation of undetermined parameters by means of correlation matrix analysis and continuity conditions of adjacent shell segments. It may be used to solve accurately and simply deflections and stresses in the structural members at any point in the individual span ranging from single cylinder to double cylinder, locate the structural weakness and allow the researchers to have a comprehensive understanding of the massive structure strength. Model tests show that this method is accurate and reliable and may be adopted to perform a number of effective calculation analysis of engineering for the design of double pressure shell.