Automatic procedure for analysis and geometry definition of axisymmetric domes by the membrane theory with constant normal stress

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents an automatic procedure using the membrane theory of shells to analyse and define geometries for axisymmetric domes subjected to its own weight, varying its thickness and bend radius, to obtain constant normal stresses along the structure. The procedure offers a great advantage over the analytic solution of the problem and usual shell numerical methods when one wants to determine the dome geometry with constant stresses, since the presented procedure has the goal stress as input value for obtaining the geometry, as opposed to the usual numerical methods, where the reverse occurs. An example clarifies the differences between a spherical dome with constant thickness and a dome subjected to constant stress. The convergence of the method for a specific material weight and stress for a dome are also presented.