Nonlinear Static Analysis of Deep Water Axisymmetric Spherical Half Drop Shell

Abstract

This paper presents a nonlinear static analysis of a deep water axisymmetric half drop shell by using membrane theory. Differential geometry is introduced in order to compute the shell geometry. In this study, the shell is simulated using one-dimensional beam elements described in spherical polar coordinates. Energy functional of the shell is derived from the principle of virtual work in terms of displacements and it is expressed in the appropriate forms. The static deformed configuration of the shell can be obtained by using the nonlinear finite element method in which the numerical solutions are solved by using the iterative procedure. The effects for different boundary supported conditions, sea water depth ratios, and radius-to-thickness ratios on the displacement of the half drop shell are presented in this paper.