Stresses in shell structures

Abstract

In this paper the stresses obtained for various (thin) shell structures by using two types of doubly curved finite elements are compared with published information. One of the elements—a ring shell element—is designed to analyze axisymmetric structures such as cylinders and hyperboloids. The accuracy and convergence of this element is shown to be excellent. The other element—a quadrilateral shell element—is designed to calculate stresses, mode shapes and frequencies of axisymmetric structures as well as sections of shell structures. The quadrilateral element is more versatile than the ring element. However, it is found that the convergence of the ring element is superior to that of the quadrilateral element. The resonant stresses of a hyperboloidal shell structure have been presented, and, as far as the author is aware, a similar investigation has not previously been reported in the literature. Whilst the primary purpose of the paper is to examine the usefulness of the two doubly curved elements in the analysis of shell structures, the examples considered in the text are described in detail to facilitate comparative structures by future investigators.