Theory of Flexible Shells

Euromech-Colloquium Nr. 165 The shell-theory development has changed its emphasis during the last two decades. Nonlinear problems have become its main motive. But the analysis was until recently predominantly devoted to shells designed for strength and stiffness. Nonlinearity is here relevant to buckling, to intensively vary able stress states. These are (with exception of some limit cases) covered by the quasi-shallow shell theory. The emphasis of the nonlinear analysis begins to shift further - to shells which are designed for and actually capable of large elastic displacements. These shells, used in industry for over a century, have been recently termedj1exible shells. The European Mechanics Colloquium 165. was concerned with the theory of elastic shells in connection with its applications to these shells. The Colloquium was intended to discuss: 1. The formulations of the nonlinear shell theory, different in the generality of kine matic hypothesis, and in the choice of dependent variables. 2. The specialization of the shell theory for the class of shells and the respective elastic stress states assuring flexibility. 3. Possibilities to deal with the complications of the buckling analysis of flexible shells, caused by the precritial perturbations of their shape and stress state. 4. Methods of solution appropriate for the nonlinear flexible-shell problems. 5. Applications of the theory. There were 71 participants the sessions were presided over (in that order) by E. Reissner, J. G. Simmonds, W. T. Koiter, R. C. Tennyson, F. A. Emmerling, E. Rarnm, E. L. Axelrad.

Plate and shell theories experienced a renaissance in recent years. The potentials of smart materials, the challenges of adaptive structures, the demands of thin-film technologies and more on the one hand and the availability of newly developed mathematical tools, the tremendous increase in computer facilities and the improvement of commercial software packages on the other caused a reanimation of the scientific interest. In the present book the contributions of the participants of the EUROMECH Colloquium 444 "Critical Review of the Theories of Plates and Shells and New Applications" have been collected. The aim was to discuss the common roots of different plate and shell approaches, to review the current state of the art, and to develop future lines of research. Contributions were written by scientists with civil and mechanical engineering as well as mathematical and physical background.

This book attempts to bring the essence of shell structures within the grasp of engineers. It tackles the fundamental question of how bending and stretching effects combine and interact in shell structures from a physical point of view; and shows that this approach leads to an understanding of the structural mechanics of shells in general.

Elastic shells are pervasive in everyday life. Examples of these thin-walled structures range from automobile hoods to basketballs, veins and arteries, and soft drink cans. This book explains shell theory, with numerous examples and applications. This second edition not only brings all the material of the first edition entirely up to date; it also adds two entirely new chapters on general shell theory and general membrane theory. Aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineers, as well as applied mathematicians, will find this book a clearly written and thorough information source on shell theory.

This book is concerned with the general theory of finite deflections of thin elastic plates and shells. The nature of the governing equations is such that deflections are essentially limited to several times the plate or shell thickness, in the spirit of the usual von Karman approximation. Finite deflections of laterally loaded rectangular plates with various edge conditions are treated in detail. The postbuckling behavior of ordinary and rib-stiffened rectangular plates subject to in-plane loads is also examined. The finite deflections of circular plates subject to axisymmetric lateral or in-plane loads are examined. Finite deflections of shallow shells in the form of curved panels subject to lateral load are studied on the basis of an approximate shell theory. The postbuckling behavior of cylindrical panels subject to various in-plane normal and shear forces is treated in detail. The finite-deflection buckling of circular cylindrical shells subject to axial compression, lateral loads, or torsion is examined with a consideration of the effects of initial geometric imperfections. Lastly, the finite-deformation buckling of spherical shells and spherical caps is treated by an approximate shell theory. The approximate theories are correlated with available experimental evidence wherever possible.

This book commemorates the 75th birthday of Prof. George Jaiani – Georgia’s leading expert on shell theory. He is also well known outside Georgia for his individual approach to shell theory research and as an organizer of meetings, conferences and schools in the field. The collection of papers presented includes articles by scientists from various countries discussing the state of the art and new trends in the theory of shells, plates, and beams. Chapter 20 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.