Stresses in Thin Spherical Shells with Imperfections. Part I: Influence of Axisymmetric Imperfections

Abstract A finite element model of axisymmetric geometry is used to obtain stress and moment fields in the region of an imperfection in thin, spherical shells. In Part I the studies are restricted to axisymmetric imperfections with a cosine variation along the meridian. Parametric studies are carried out to identify the main parameters controlling the response for internal pressure and gravity load. The results show that the behaviour of the shell is similar to the imperfect cylindrical shell with the same radius as in the spherical shell.