Limit Analysis of Rotationally Symmetric Shells Under Central Boss Loadings by a Numerical Method

Abstract

A new method of limit analysis of rotationally symmetric shells is introduced whereby lower and upper bounds are obtained through a nonlinear programming code. Bounds for an ideal sandwich shell with the Mises yield condition are found which are sufficiently close together for almost the entire range of the problem parameters for a particular shell configuration, thus yielding results which, in many cases, could not be obtained by standard techniques because of mathematical complexities. The method is applied to conical and parabolic shells loaded by a central boss.