'Centro de Estudos Geograficos (IGOT) Universidade de Lisboa'
Abstract
The paper presents a Finite Element formulation based on Generalized Beam Theory (GBT) for the analysis of the linear buckling behaviour of conical shells under various loading and boundary conditions. The GBT approach provides a general solution for the 1st and 2nd order analyses using bar elements capable of describing the global and local deformations. Because of the cross-section variation specific to conical shells, the mechanical and geometric properties are no longer constant along the bar axis as in the case of cylinders and prismatic thin-walled members. This proposed GBT finite element formulation is validated by comparison with results obtained by means of shell finite element analyses. The illustrative examples cover axially compressed members displaying all classical bar boundary conditions. Special attention is dedicated to the effect of pre-buckling stress concentrationspublishersversionpublishe
