ANALYSIS OF SHALLOW SHELLS BY THE METHOD OF POINT MATCHING.

Abstract : The report summarizes a study aimed at extending the applicability of the method of point matching to problems of statically loaded shallow shells, and deriving a set of shell equations for arbitrary curvature including the effects of orthotropy and thermal loading. The accuracy of the method is investigated by solving a problem for which an exact solution exists -- the uniformly loaded, shallow spherical shell supported along a square boundary by means of shear diaphragms. Solutions to the governing system of differential equations are derived in polar coordinates in terms of Kelvin-Bessel functions and then expressed in a general form for boundaries having arbitrary normal and tangential directions. Further experiences with the method are demonstrated on problems of shallow spherical shells having regular polygonal and elliptical boundaries. For contrast, clamped and shear diaphragm edge conditions are studied. General solutions for circular cylindrical shallow shells, where the effects of rectangular orthotropy and thermal gradients are retained, are obtained by means of the auxiliary function approach. (Author)