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The Buckling of Clamped Shallow Spherical Shells Under Uniform Pressure

Citation

Parmerter, Robert Reid (1964) The Buckling of Clamped Shallow Spherical Shells Under Uniform Pressure. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/R18G-ZC96. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10212002-112304

Abstract

In view of the wide discrepancy between previous theoretical and experimental results the problem of the buckling of clamped spherical shells under uniform external pressure is reexamined. A theoretical study is carried out to determine if asymmetrical modes participate in the snap-through process. It is shown that asymmetrical buckling does occur in a certain range of a geometric parameter, at loads which are significantly less than those predicted from symmetrical theory. Additional effects can be expected if the shell has symmetrical or asymmetrical imperfections, however, the present study considers only the perfect shell. Experiments were carried out with copper shells fabricated by an electroforming process. The initial imperfections in the test specimens were of the order of 1/10 of the thickness. The buckling loads of these shells exceeded the loads which have previously been reported by as much as a factor of two at higher values of the geometrical parameter [lamda]. Good agreement is found between theory and experiment, and with the recently published asymmetrical theory of Huang.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Aeronautics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Aeronautics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Fung, Yuan-cheng (advisor)
  • Sechler, Ernest Edwin (advisor)
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1964
Additional Information:Title varies in the 1964 Caltech commencement program: Asymmetrical Buckling of a Spherical Cap under Uniform Pressure
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-10212002-112304
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10212002-112304
DOI:10.7907/R18G-ZC96
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:4197
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:22 Oct 2002
Last Modified:29 Jan 2024 21:23

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