Elastic Stress in Flared-Edge Cylindrical Shells

The theory of elastic, homogeneous, isotropic, thin cylindrical shells under axial symmetric loading is well-know (1). However, the coupling effects of simultaneously applied edge moments, radial shear, and axial loads have not been studied and numerical results applicable to practical cases where edge restraint conditions are uncertain are still lacking. Although the flared edge design is much more economical than welded flat flanges, the penalty is that the vertical load is transmitted to the bottom section through the offset distance, e, to the middle surface of the shell wall. The resulting elastic stresses due to coupled axial forces and bending moments may lead to plastic flow, local buckling, and eventual collapse of such sections. It is the purpose of the present study to predict the coupled elastic stresses that yield upper bounds on the unbuckled stress states.