2034 AIAA JOURNAL VOL. 5, NO.

11

Bifurcation Phenomena in Spherical Shells under

Concentrated and Ring Loads
DAVID BUSHNELL*
Lockheed Polo Alto Research Laboratory, Polo Alto, Calif.

Finite prebuckling deformations are accounted for in the calculation of bifurcation loads
for spherical shells under concentrated loads and ring loads. In the case of clamped caps
with in ward-directed point loads, good agreement is obtained with the test results of Penning
and Thurston and the analytical results reported by Budiansky and Hutchinson. The analysis
of simply supported caps is in qualitative agreement with the test results of Evan-Iwanowski
et al. Further calculations show that bifurcation in the case of complete spherical shells
occurs with 3 circumferential waves. The critical value of the dimensionless load parameter
PR/Et3 is independent of the radius-to-thickness ratio R/t for R/t greater than about 100,
and it decreases with decreasing R/t. Spherical shells with outward-directed point loads
buckle with 8 circumferential waves at loads 18 to 24 times the critical in ward- directed loads.
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358

As the diameter increases, of the ring over which the tensile load is applied, the critical load
increases; the number of circumferential waves increases and results from linear theory
approach those from the nonlinear theory.

Nomenclature ture has been studied by several authors. Most treatments

= bending rigidity D = Et*/[l2(l - */2)]
= Young's modulus
= distance between adjacent points in finite-difference
mesh; also horizontal stress resultant
h = distance from apex to plane of edge
Mi = meridional moment resultant
= meridional circumferential stress resultants
jV10j j\T20 == meridional, circumferential prebuckling stress re-
sultants
Niz = shear stress resultant
n = number of circumferential waves in buckled shell;
also iteration number
= concentrated load, Ib, P = 2-n-^V
= PR/Et*
= value of P for which bifurcation occurs
= spherical radius
= see Fig. 9
-= horizontal radius from axis of revolution to shell
middle surface
= arc length measured from axis of revolution
t = shell wall thickness
UH — horizontal displacement of shell middle surf ace
uv = vertical (axial) displacement of shell middle surface
= prebuckling axial displacement of shell middle surface
UvQ
i) = circumferential displacement of shell middle surface
V = vertical (axial) force /length, positive for tension
VCr = value of V at bifurcation load
w = normal displacement of shell middle surface
= normal inward displacement of apex
= edge angle of spherical cap
= see Fig. 9
= meridional rotation
= prebuckling meridional rotation
X = geometric parameter; X = [12(1 - ? 2 )] 1/4 (#/0 1/2 a
v = Poisson's ratio, taken as 0.3 in the calculations
\f/ = stress function for the prebuckling equations
( ) = differentiation of ( ) with respect to s
Introduction
deal with shallow segments supported in some way at their
edges. The first theoretical solution was offered by Biezeno1
in 1935. He perceived the nonlinear nature of the problem
and calculated load-deflection curves, which indicated regions
of unstable equilibrium. In 1956 Chien2 treated a spherical
shell segment with a ring load around the apex and bending
moments at the edge. By allowing the radius of the ring
load to approach zero he was able to examine the case of a
concentrated load. Ash well3 noticed from experiments that
the deformation of a point-loaded spherical shell consists of
a region of reversed curvature which spreads concentrically
from the load. Accordingly, he solved approximately the
large-deflection, nonlinear problem by using two sets of
small-deflection, linear equations, one for the region of re-
versed curvature and one for the outer region. His theo-
retical results agree fairly well with his experimental results.
Archer4 used the nonlinear shallow shell equations of Reissner5
to treat the problem. He applied the method of finite differ-
ences to the equations, treating the nonlinear terms as non-
homogeneities that appear, through an iterative procedure,
on the right-hand side of the set of difference equations.
Mescall6 has published results from a study of the axisym-
metric deformations of clamped and simply supported
shallow caps. His findings agree qualitatively with the
experimental results of Evan-Iwanowski7 for X < 10.
Evan-Iwanowski et al.7 performed extensive experiments
on both shallow and deep spherical shell segments. Most
of the shells were supported by a flat, smooth, rigid table.
Some of the specimens were rigidly clamped at their edges.
Supported by experimental evidence, Evan-Iwanowski
postulates the existence of branch points in the load-deflection
curves for symmetric equilibrium. Penning and Thurston8
and Penning9 report experimental and theoretical results for
point-loaded shallow spherical caps clamped at the edges.
In the experiments it was noted that when X > 11.6, the mode
of the deformation changes with increasing load from sym-
metric to asymmetric, both with and without snapping. A

T HE problem of determining the behavior of a spherical

shell with a point load acting toward its center of curva-
Received November 21, 1966; revision received March 16,
1967; also presented at the AIAA/ASME 8th Structures,
Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Palm Springs,
Calif., March 29-31, 1967. This work was sponsored by the
Lockheed Missiles & Space Company's Independent Develop-
ment Program. [6.02]
* Research Scientist. Member AIAA.
A 3-lobed pattern develops when 6 < P* < 8. For higher
values of the load the pattern becomes 4 lobed and subse-
quently 5 lobed.
In a recent survey paper of some buckling problems, Budi-
ansky and Hutchinson10 present a brief summary of the re-
sults of research performed by Fitch11 on point-loaded shallow
spherical caps clamped at the edge. Figure 10 of Ref. 10
shows theoretical bifurcation loads and wave number n
as functions of the geometric parameter X. No details are
 NOVEMBER 1967 BIFURCATION PHENOMENA IN SPHERICAL SHELLS 2035

presented concerning the numerical method used to solve

the nonlinear equations.

Problem Formulation
The analysis as formulated here has two parts. In the
first part, the two equations governing the prebuckled state
of an arbitrary, axisymmetrically loaded shell of revolution
are solved.12 These equations, an equation of equilibrium
of forces normal to the undeformed middle surface and a
compatibility equation, are nonlinear, nonhomogeneous,
second-order, ordinary differential equations. They were
originally derived by Reissner and appear as Eqs. (Ill) and DISPLACEMENT - DISPLACEMENT - -^

(IV) in Ref. 5. In the present analysis, these equations are

solved by Newton's method, which is discussed in Ref. 13-
15 and which was used by Penning and Thurston.8
The second part of the stability problem involves the solu-
tion of a linear eigenvalue problem. Displacements and
stresses calculated in the first part appear as known variable
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358

coefficients in the two homogeneous, linear, partial differential

equations governing stability. The lowest eigenvalue of
these equations is the buckling load. The stability equa-
tions, written in terms of a stress function <p and the normal
displacement w, are given in Ref. 16. They are valid for
arbitrary shells of revolution. The shell need not be geo-
metrically shallow, but the shortest wavelength in the
buckling pattern must be small compared to the minimum
radius of curvature of the shell middle surface.
The boundary conditions for both the problem of equilib-
rium and the problem of stability are given in a general form
in order to permit treatment of composite shells in which the
elastic properties of adjacent structures are accounted for
through their stiffness coefficients. Equation (12) of Ref.
12 and Eq. (11) of Ref. 16 are the boundary conditions.
The method of finite differences is used to solve both the
prebuckling and the stability equations. In each set of
equations the matrix of coefficients is strongly banded about
4-LOBED PAT7
WELL-DEVELOPED
EXPERIMENT
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
DISPLACEMENT - -^
Fig. 2 Load-deflection curves from theory and experiment
for clamped caps: a) comparison with test of Ref. 8;
b) comparison with test of Ref. 8; c) comparison with test
of Ref. 9; d) comparison with test of Ref. 8.
the main diagonal. Efficient computer subroutines exist17
which solve large equation systems whose coefficients
matrices are banded. The derivatives of the dependent vari-
ables of the second-order prebuckling equations are simulated
by three-point difference formulas; those of the fourth-order
stability equations are simulated by five-point difference
formulas. In the prebuckling problem there are 2M + 4
simultaneous algebraic equations: a compatibility and an
equilibrium equation for each of M points on the meridian
and 4 boundary conditions, 2 for each end of the meridian.
In the stability problem there are 2M + 8 simultaneous
equations: a compatibility^ and an equilibrium equation
for each of the M meridional points and 8 boundary condi-
tions, 4 for each end of the meridian.

Clamped Caps with Inward-Directed Point Loads

DISPLACEMENT - - Numerical results for clamped caps were generated by
use of a computer program written for the UNIVAC 1108
in FORTRAN IV. This program is based on the theoretical
developments presented here and in Refs. 12 and 16. Figures
1 and 2 give theoretical and experimental load-deflection
l-LCBED PATTER
ELL-DEVELOPED
curves for shallow clamped spherical caps submitted to point
EXPERIMENT loads at the apex. The experimental results are from Refs.
3-LOBED PATTERN
WELL-DEVELOPED IN
EXPERIMENT
7-9. A dimensionless load parameter P* = PR/Et3 is
plotted vs the inward deflection of the apex.
Figure la shows load-deflection curves for three clamped
caps with the same geometry as specimens CC-011, CC-012
and CC-013 of Ref. 7. The inward displacement WQ is nor-
malized with respect to the cap rise h. It is seen that the
theoretical curves become very steep as wo/h approaches 2.
When wo/h = 2, the deformed cap closely approximates an
DISPLACEMENT - - DISPLACEMENT - -
inverted spherical shell segment, and further loading is re-
c)
acted by extensional straining. Therefore, the deformed
Fig. 1 Load-deflection curves from theory and experiment structure is very stiff, and the load-deflection curve is very
for clamped caps: a) comparison with tests of Ref. 7; steep.
b) comparison with test of Ref. 8; c) comparison with test The experimental curves are steeper than the theoretical
of Ref. 8; d) comparison with test of Ref. 9. curves over most of the deflection range. The theoretical
 2036
10-1
R/t = 15
PRESENT THEORY,
COMPLETE SPHERE
PRESENT THEORY, CLAMPED
CAPS
—..— ASHWELL, COMPLETE SPHERE
————— LINEAR, SMALL-DEFLECTION
THEORY
O BIFURCATION INTO 3 WAVES
D BIFURCATION INTO 4 WAVES
i ••••• —i—— i tion input variables.
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358
) 5 10 15 20 25 30
APEX DISPLACEMENT - ~^-
Fig. 3 Load-deflection curves and bifurcation points for
complete spherical shells and clamped caps.
analysis of the specimen CC-013 (X = 7.93) predicts axisym-
metric snapping at P* = 8.2 and w0/h = 1.55. No such
phenomenon occurred in the experiment. However, the
curves given in Fig. la agree with those obtained by Mescall
(see Fig. 4 of Ref. 6). Mescall's load-deflection curves for
clamped caps indicate that snap-through occurs if X is
greater than about 8. The same result is indicated in Fig.
10 of Ref. 10.
Figures Ib-ld and 2a-2d give theoretical and experi-
mental load-deflection curves for clamped caps of the geome-
tries tested by Penning and Thurston8 and by Penning.9
Points at which the theory predicts bifurcation from the
load-deflection curve for axisymmetric equilibrium are also
shown. It is noted on the experimental load-deflection
curves where 3-lobed and 4-lobed nonsymmetric patterns
gradually became visible or suddenly appeared with audible
snapping. Axisymmetric snapping occurred in the tests
for 2 < P* < 3 and X = 15.6, 16.6, and 20.0. No such snap-
ping is predicted by this theory or the theory of Refs. 8 and
11. Neither was it observed in Ref. 7 in any of the tests on
caps with X > 10.2.
It is seen from the theoretical data that bifurcation into
3 circumferential waves does not occur when X < 12.5.
When X = 13.52, bifurcation into 4 waves occurs at a slightly
lower load than does bifurcation into 3 waves. When X >
15.6, bifurcation theoretically occurs first into 3 waves, then
4 waves, and then 5 waves. The experimental caps for X >
16.1 behaved approximately in this manner. The com-
puter-generated data is in excellent agreement with the
results of Ref. 10.
On the experimental curves for X = 11.6 and 12.5 (Figs.
Ib and Ic), it is noted that 3-lobed patterns were well-
developed for P* slightly greater than 6. No bifurcation
into 3 waves for these values of X is predicted by theory.
However, plots of the stability determinants as functions of
P* reveal that when n = 3 the determinants have minima
at about P* = 6.6. When X < 13.5, no bifurcation into a
3-wave pattern occurs for a perfect shell with perfect clamp-
ing at the edge. Small axisymmetric imperfections will
change the effective X, however; nonsymmetric imperfections
with 3-lobed components will probably grow as P* approaches
6. In Ref. 7, Evan-Iwanowski noted from tests on clamped
caps that when 10.2 < X < 14.9 the symmetric dimple
changes into a 4- or 6-lobed pattern as the load is increased.
The 3-lobed pattern occurred only for deep shells and for
shells with no horizontal restraint at their edges.
D. BUSHNELL AIAA JOURNAL
Complete Spherical Shells with
Inward-Directed Point Loads
Most of the interest in the behavior of shallow spherical
caps, under uniform external pressure arid under concen-
trated loads, was generated by observations of the behavior
of complete spherical shells under these types of loading. It
is observed that all deformations occur over a small area
which subtends a small angle. Well-known shallow shell
equations can be used to study large-deflection bending and
buckling phenomena. However, when such a model is
constructed, one is faced with the problems of what boundary
conditions to use and how to determine the accuracy of the
results. The computer program used for this research is
based upon equations which are valid for deep shells. The
boundary conditions are treated in a general way as shown
in Eq. (11) of Ref. 16. Therefore, a spherical cap can be
investigated, the remainder of the complete sphere being
simulated through the appropriate choice of boundary condi-
The numerical results for the complete sphere were gener-
ated by the choice of large values of X and enforcement of
the following conditions at the boundary:
(1)
It is necessary to establish that the calculated bifurcation
loads correspond to the limiting case of a complete sphere.
To this endr calculations were made with X = 20 and X = 30
for 15 < R/t < 3040, The two sets of solutions are identical
to three significant figures. Therefore the limit has been
reached for X = 20. With the boundary conditions given
by Eq. (1), no bifurcation into a 2-lobed pattern occurs. This
result is in accordance with the experimental findings re-
ported for deep shells in Ref. 7. The stability determinants
all have minima at about P* = 6, but do not change sign.
Figure 3 shows load-deflection curves and bifurcation
points for complete spheres and clamped caps. The curve
obtained from linear bending theory and AshwelPs theoretical
curve are also shown for comparison. The dotted curves
are for clamped caps of various geometries, all of them in-
cluded in the test programs of Refs. 7-9.
When R/t is greater than about 500, the dimensionless
load-deflection curve and the dimensionless bifurcation loads
are independent of R/t. The theoretical load-deflection
curves and bifurcation points for X > 13.52 given in Figs.
Id and 2a-2d are identical to the curve and points labeled
R/t > 500 in Fig. 3. This fact is not surprising when it is
recalled that the equations governing the behavior of a shal-
low shell segment can be nondimensionalized in such a way
as to eliminate from the analysis the dependence on R/t.
When the shell is shallow and clamped at the edge, the
normalization that eliminates the geometrical parameter X
from the shallow shell equilibrium and compatibility equa-
tions does not eliminate it from the boundary conditions.
The load-deflection curves of finite shells are independent
of the support conditions only when the localized deformations
near the load are remote from the boundaries. As can be
seen from Fig. 3, this condition prevails for values of X greater
than about 13 and for R/t > 500.
Since the dependence of the load-deflection curves on X
and on R/t vanishes for loads below the bifurcation load
when X > 13 and R/t > 500, the scatter in the experimental
results of Refs. 8 and 9, evident in Figs. Id and 2a-2d must
be due to initial imperfections in specimen geometry, loading,
or boundary support.
Also shown in Fig. 3 are load-deflection curves for complete
spheres with R/t = 93.5, 50, 30, and 15. They fall below
the limit curve as the load P* increases. The bifurcation
loads decrease with decreasing R/t. The explanation of
this behavior is as follows: As R/t decreases, the dimple
corresponding to a given value of P* subtends larger and
 NOVEMBER 1967 BIFURCATION PHENOMENA IN SPHERICAL SHELLS 2037

Table 1 Collapse and bifurcation loads from test and theory for simply supported caps

Experimental
specimen
designation Xa R/t n (PR/EV) test (PR/EV) calc. Comments
SC-039 4.52 98.5 0 1.3 1.24 Axisymmetric collapse
SC-034 5.93 93.5 0 2.0 2.03 Axisymmetric collapse
SC-041 6.40 191 0 2.5 2.33 Axisymmetric collapse
SC-043 7.92 292 0 4.0 3.60 Axisymmetric collapse
SC-036 8.41 191 0 4.3 4.07 Axisymmetric collapse
SC-037 9.54 240 2 6.2 5.15 Bifurcation before collapse
SC-038 10.34 287 2 7.0 5.70 Bifurcation before collapse
SC-023 11.15 145 2 5.95 Test data not given
SC-001 11.50 248 2 6.05 Test data not given
SC-002 13.50 345 2 6.11 Test data not given
SC-026 15.90 291 2 6.01 Test data not given
SC-027 18.30 390 2 5.95 Test data not given
SC-023 11.15 145 3 6.11 Test data not given
SC-001 11.50 248 3 6.20 Test data not given
SC-002 13.50 345 3 6.25 Test data not given
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358

SC-026 15.90 291 3 6.23 Test data not given

SC-027 18.30 390 3 6.20 Test data not given
1
In Ref. 6,X = [12(1 T h e tabulated values are X = [12(1 - ? 2 )P' 4 CK/0 1/2 a.

larger angles. At the load P* = 6.26, for which bifurcation Effect of Boundary Conditions
into 3 waves occurs, the half-angle of the dimple is approxi-
mately It is interesting that, for large X, shells with free edges
buckle in two circumferential waves, whereas shells with
a = 4.0(£/#)1/2 (2) clamped edges buckle in. three waves. Table 2 and Fig. 6
With R/t = 50, for example, the half^angle of the dimple is show the effect of various boundary conditions on the bi-
about 32.5° at bifurcation. Some of the terms in the non- furcation behavior with n = 2 and 3 for a shell with R/t =
shallow shell equations become significant for shells of this 3040 and X = 30. The cases are given more or less in the
depth. The curves for all of the thick shells approach the order of increasing "rigidity" of the boundary conditions.
limit curve as P* decreases. The dimple grows smaller and Buckling mode shapes for the first five cases with n = 2
are shown in Fig. 6. It is seen that the mode shapes differ
the shallow shell equations become more accurate.
Figure 4 shows the prebuckling vertical (axial) displace- substantially in the neighborhood of the edge, whereas the
ment for P* = 3.02, 4.54, and 6.26 and the buckling mode bifurcation loads are the same to 3 significant figures. For
shape for complete spherical shells which buckle into 3 the free edge (case 1), the modal deformation is almost
inextensional in the region near the edge. The effect of re-
circumferential waves. Dimensionless quantities are plotted,
so that the curves apply to shells of any R/t as long as the straint at the edge with n = 2 is not confined to a narrow
boundary layer, but is transmitted over more than half of the
region of deformations is shallow (R/t > 500).
meridional length.
Bifurcation loads for n = 3 are also listed in Table 2, In
Simply Supported Caps with most cases the bifurcation loads for n — 2 and n = 3 are
Inward-Directed Point Loads
In Ref. 7 Evan-Iwanowski reports the results of tests on P*= 6.26
point-loaded shallow spherical caps with no horizontal re-
straint at the edge. The caps were supported by a smooth,
rigid table. In this analysis a free edge condition is assumed
at the boundary to simulate the actual test condition. The
test data and theoretical results are presented in Table 1
and Fig. 5.
From Table 1 it is seen that the theoretical and experi-
mental results agree to within 10% when X < 9.54. The
shells collapse axisymmetrically. The theory predicts that
bifurcation and axisymmetric collapse occur almost simul-
taneously when X = 9.54. Bifurcation occurs before axi-
symmetric collapse when X = 10.34. A similar phenomenon
is evident from Fig. 15 of Ref. 7. There are no test data given
for the loads at which bifurcation first occurs when X > 10.34.
Such data would be hard to obtain, since the "postbuckled"
states are stable, and there is no sharp transition from sym-
metric to nonsymmetric modes of deformation. The critical
loads that Evan-Iwanowski gives in Table 1 of Ref. 7 for
X > 10.72 refer to the loads at which a nonsymmetric pattern
suddenly changes into a new nonsymmetric pattern.
Figure 5 gives the limit load-deflection curve for the com-
-0.4-J
plete spherical shell and the load-deflection curves for some
of the specimens listed in Table 1. As in the case of clamped Fig. 4 Normalized prebuckling vertical (axial) displace-
caps, the load-deflection curves for simply supported caps ments and buckling mode as functions of normalized
approach that for the complete sphere as X becomes large. arc length.
 2038 D. BUSHNELL AIAA JOURNAL

Table 2 Bifurcation loads for various boundary

•^'BIFURCATION INTO
2 WAVES conditions: R/t = 3040, X = 30

Case PR/EV
no. Boundary cond. n =2 n =3
1 H = Mi = Nn = V = 0 6.1576 6.,2097
2 H = 18 = Nn =v =0 6.1633 6, 2097
3 H = Mi = V = V = 0 6.1627 6..2097
4 H = Mi = Nn = uv = 0 6.1648 6..2097
5 UH = Mi = Nn = V = 0 6.1627 6 .2121
6 UH = Mi = V = V = 0 6.1627
7 H = Mi = V = uv = 0 6.2279 6 .2100
8 UH = Mi = N12 = Uv = 0 6.6400
9 UH = Mi = V = Uv = 0 no bifurcation
10 UH = P = V — u —. 0 no bifurcation 6 .2196

load at which bifurcation occurs. Figure 23 of Ref. 18 shows

APEX DISPLACEMENT -
the buckling pattern.
Fig. 5 Load-deflection curves and bifurcation points for Buckling loads for this system can be calculated as de-
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358

complete spherical shells and simply supported caps.
fairly close. In cases 7 and 8, the loads for n = 2 are higher
than those for n = 3. In cases 9 and 10, no bifurcation
occurs for n = 2; however, the stability determinants have
minima at about PR/Et* = 6.3. Test results7 indicate that
deep (large A) spherical shells supported by a smooth, rigid
table buckle in three waves. It is likely that in these tests
uv = 0 at the edge of the shell. Also friction forces could im-
pose enough restraint on UH and v to cause the n = 3 mode
to be critical. It is possible that the load-deflection curve
in the postbuckling range f or n = 3 has a smaller slope than
that f or n = 2, so that the n = 3 mode develops as the post-
buckling deformations become visible.
Spherical Shells with Out ward-Directed
Concentrated Loads
It has been shown experimentally18 that thin spherical
shells buckle when submitted to radial, outward-directed
point loads. Unfortunately, the experiments of Ref. 18
were only qualitative; no measurements were made of the
scribed for the case of the inward-directed concentrated
load. Table 3 gives dimensionless loads PR/Et3 and wave
number n as functions of R/t. The buckling loads for out-
ward-directed concentrated loads are about 18 to 24 times
those for inward-directed concentrated loads. For practical
purposes, PR/Et* is independent of R/t when R/t is greater
than about 500. In the entire range R/t > 50 the buckle
pattern has 8 circumferential waves.
Figure 7 shows the dimensionless vertical prebuckling dis-
placements Uvo/t and the dimensionless circumferential
stress A^o(l — v2)(R/t)/Et for the loads at which bifurcation
occurs in 8 circumferential waves. The values of R/t used
in the calculations are 50, 100, 455, 1600, and 3040. Dis-
placements and stresses are plotted vs a dimensionless arc
length s/(Rt)1/2. As might be expected, the maximum dis-
placement occurs at the point of load application, and it is
smaller than that corresponding to the bifurcation load for
inward-directed loads (see Fig. 4). The maximum com-
pressive hoop stress occurs at s/(Rt)112 = 4.25 and Nw(l —
p2) (R/t)/Et = 0.667. The values of JV2o calculated from
membrane shell theory are also shown in Fig. 7.
Figure 8 shows the modal displacements w/t, (v/t)(R/t)112,
and (un/t)(R/t)112 corresponding to bifurcation in an 8-
wave pattern. The maximum displacements occur near
the point where the maximum prebuckling compressive hoop
stress Nw occurs. For R/t > 50, w/t, (v/t)(R/t)112, and
(uH/t)(R/t)112 are almost independent of R/t when these
quantities are plotted vs s/(Rt)112. The displacements are
confined to fairly shallow portions of the spherical shells.
Therefore, Reissner's shallow shell equations can be used
to treat the problem. It has been pointed out above that
these equations can be normalized such that the R/t depen-
dence drops out.

Spherical Segments in Axial Tension

The point load P is the limiting case of a load 2irriV dis-
tributed uniformly over a parallel circle of radius r\. The
load 2irriV is held constant as TI approaches zero. It is of
interest to study spherical segments in tension in order to
see how the shell behaves as the limiting case of a point load
is approached. Another purpose of this investigation is to

Table 3 Buckling loads PR/Etz for spherical shells

with outward-directed concentrated loads

B/t PR/Et*
-0.02-
3040 148
1600 147
Fig. 6 Mode shapes corresponding to bifurcation into 2 455 144
circumferential waves for spherical caps with R/t = 3040, 100 129
X = 30, and various boundary conditions (see Table 2). 50 113
P* is about 6.16.
 NOVEMBER 1967 BIFURCATION PHENOMENA IN SPHERICAL SHELLS 2039

Table 4 Critical loads riFcr(l — v2)/Et2 for spherical segments in tension

R/t = 100 R/t = 455 R/t = 1600

Non- Non- Non-
«1« n Eq. (7) Linear linear n Eq. (7) Linear linear n Eq. (7) Linear linear
1.16 38 0.580 0.574 0.578 71 0.552 0.532 0.539
1.0 37 0.518 0.513 0.522
0.9 18 0.543 0.540 35 0.469 0.468 0.480 63 0.426 0.423 0.430
0.8 33 0.405 0.414 0.430
0.7 16 0.448 0.442 0.488 30 0.348 0.353 0.371 53 0.305 0.308 0.315
0.6 27 0.285 0.289 0.310
0.5 13 0.326 0.309 0.381 24 0.224 0.226 0.250 41 0.183 0.188 0.197
0.4 21 0.167 0.166 0.191
0.3 10 0.205 0.170 0.269 17 0.115 0.110 0.137 28 0.0849 0.0853 0.0940
0.25 15 0.0910 0.0856 0.112
0.20 8 0.149 0.107 0.225 13 0.0698 0.0632 0.0903 20 0.0467 0.0457 0.0545
0.20 9 0.149 0.112 0.222
0.15 10 0.0518 0.0432 0.0728
0.15 11 0.0518 0.0434 0.0714
0.15 12 0.0518 0.0723
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358

0.10 4 0.0990 0.0638 7 0.0360 0.0273 0.0682 11 0.0193 0.0173

0.10 5 0.0990 0.0526 8 0.0360 0.0262 0.0592 12 0.0193 0.0169 0.0254
0.10 6 0.0990 0.0539 9 0.0360 0.0269 0.0567 13 0.0193 0.0171 0.0253
0.10 7 0.0990 0.0605 0.196 10 0.0360 0.0572 14 0.0193 0.0176 0.0258
0.10 8 0.0990 0.0703 0.193
0.10 9 0.0990 0.199
0.05 3 0.0775 0.0377 5 0.0230 0.0127 ' 7 0.0100 0.0074
0.05 4 0.0775 0.0297 6 0.0230 0.0126 0.0580 8 0.0100 0.0072 0.0169
0.05 5 0.0775 0.0331 7 0.0230 0.0139 0.0496 9 0.0100 0.0075 0.0162
0.05 6 0.0775 0.0406 8 0.0230 0.0479 10 0.0100 0.0164
0.05 7 0.0775 0.0510 0.188 9 0.0230 0.0489
0.05 8 0.0775 0.188
0 8 0.0580 0.185 8 0.0128 0.0456 8 0.0033 0.0133
a
With a\ = 1.16, ai = 1.57. These cases were treated experimentally and analytically by Yao (Ref. 19). For all other ai, with R/t = 100:
«i -f 1.0 rad. With R/t = 455 and 1600 0:2 = ai + 0.5 rad.

compare the buckling loads for a theory in which the pre-
buckling stresses are obtained from membrane theory with
the buckling loads for a theory in which the prebuckling
stresses are obtained from the nonlinear analysis.
A spherical segment with applied tension load is shown at
the top of Fig. 9. Yao19 performed experiments on and
analyzed tension loaded spherical segments clamped at «i
and au. Budiansky and Hutchinson10 calculated bifurcation
loads of toroidal segments under axial tension. Both of
these investigations treat shells in which a\ is fairly large.
Table 4 shows critical loads ri7 cr (l - v*)/Et2 for 0.05
< ai < 1.16 rad and R/t = 100, 455, and 1600. Values
for 0:2 are given in the footnote. Spherical segments of this
geometry buckle near the edge at OL\ when a\ is less than
about 0.9 rad. The buckling loads are independent of a2
when it is greater than the values specified in the footnote
of the table. The critical loads in the column headed "linear"
are calculated from the stability equations of Ref. 16, where
the prebuckling stresses Nw and Nw are given by NIQ =
—A^o = rVR/r*. The prebuckling meridional rotation
fa is set equal to zero. The critical loads in the column

R/t = 50
•R/t=100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ARC LENGTH - s/(Rt)1/2

R/t- PR/El

0.8- R/t 5*500

R/t-100
0.4-

R/t 2 500
MEMBANE THEORY: 0.8-i-< R/t =100
N20= -PR/2.TTP 2
R/t £500
R/t = 100
R/t = 50

ARC LENGTH- s,

Fig. 7 Normalized prebuckling axial displacement and Fig. 8 Normalized mode shapes corresponding to bifurca-
circumferential stress resultant for spherical shells with tion into 8 circumferential waves for spherical shells with
outward-directed concentrated loads. outward-directed concentrated loads.
 2040 D. BUSHNELL
ARC LENGTH - s/(Rt?/
0.21
0
R/t = 100
-0.2H
Downloaded by YORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES on January 4, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/3.4358
Fig. 9 Normalized prebuckling axial displacements and
circumferential stress resultants and normalized modal
displacements for spherical segments in axial tension, a.\ —
0.7 rad.
headed "nonlinear" are obtained from the same stability
equations, except that Nw, N%^ and.. ft are calculated from
the nonlinear equations presented in Ref. 12. These equa-
tions are solved by the Newton-Raphson method, as de-
scribed above. The values of n when cti > 0.25 correspond
to the minimum riVCI(n). The minimum is included in the
calculations for OL\ < 0.20. Columns are also included in
which ri FCr is calculated from a "semiempirical" equation to
be given. The following facts emerge from an inspection of
Table 4:
1) The critical load Pcr = 2irriVCT increases as n increases.
2) The linear. theory can be applied over a larger range of
oil for shells with greater 'R/t. The values of riVCT for the
nonlinear theory are always greater than those for the linear
theory.
3) When a\ < 0.2, the nonlinear theory predicts buckling
into a greater number of circumferential waves than does
the linear theory. This discrepancy increases with increasing
thickness.
4) The value of riFcr and the corresponding value of n
approach the appropriate limits as .a\ -> 0 (see Table 3).
In addition, the solutions for R/t = 455 and 1600 with «i =
1.16 and «2 = 1.57 rad are quite close to the theoretical re-
sults of Ref. 16. Yao obtained buckling loads riFcr(l —
v*)/Etz = 0.591 and 0.553, respectively, for these cases.
Figure 9 shows the prebuckling displacement uvQ/t, the
stress resultant NzQ(l — v*)(R/t)/Et, and the modal dis-
placement w/t plotted vs s/(Rt)l/z for «i = 0.7 and R/t =
100 and 1600. The maximum displacement in the buckling
mode occurs where NW is maximum compressive. It is seen
that this maximum compressive hoop stress is fairly close
to the local value predicted by membrane theory; this is
also shown in the figure.
It is possible to derive simple approximate formulas for
the buckling load rVCT and the corresponding wave number
n. These formulas are derived with the help of physical
reasoning and experimental or computer-generated data.
Such a formula for the buckling load is
riFcr(l - v*)IEP = 0.622 sin2^ + 3.1/(#/01/2] (3)
AIAA JOURNAL
The number of circumferential waves in the buckle pattern
can be accurately predicted by means of the equation
n = 1.84(72/01/2 sinfai + 4.2/(fl/0172] (4)
Equation (3) is derived through the following assumptions:
1) Buckling occurs when the maximum negative value of
Nw(R/t)(l - v2)/Et = 0.622, independent of shell geometry.
2) The point at which A^o is maximum compressive is lo-
cated a distance 3.1 (/ft)172 from the edge at ar, and its value
at that point can be determined accurately from membrane
shell theory.
Equation (4) is derived through the following assumptions :
1) The maximum normal displacement w in the buckling
pattern occurs where A^o is maximum compressive. 2) The
circumferential wavelength is proportional to (/ft)1/2.
References
1
Biezeno, C. B., "Tiber die Bestimmung der Durchschlagkraft
einer Schwachgekrummten kreisformigen Platte," Z. Angew.
Math.
2
Mech. 15, 10-22 (1935).
Chien, W.7 Z. and Hu, H. C., "On the snapping of a thin
spherical cap,' 9th International Congress of Applied Mechanics
(University
3
of Brussels, 1957) Vol. 6, pp. 309-337.
Ashwell, D. G., "On the large deflection of a spherical shell
with an inward point load," Proceedings of the I.U.T.A.M. Sym-
posium on the Theory of Thin Elastic Shells (North-Holland
Publishing
4
Company, Amsterdam, 1960), pp. 43^63.
Archer, R. R., "On the numerical solution of the nonlinear
equations for shells of revolution,'' J. Math. Phys. 14, 165-178
(1962).
5
Reissner, E., "On axisymmetric deformations- of thin shells
of revolution," Proceedings of the Third Symposium in Applied
Mathematics (McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc., New York,
1950), pp. 27-52.
6
Mescall, J. F., 7"Large deflections of spherical shells under
concentrated loads,' J. Appl. Mech. 32, 936-938 (1965).
7
Evan-Iwanovski, R. M., Cheng, H. S., and Loo, T. C.,
"Experimental investigation of deformations and stability of7
spherical shells subjected to concentrated load at the apex,'
Proceedings of the Fourth U. S. National Congress of Applied
Mechanics (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New
York, 1962), Vol. 1, pp. 563-575.
8
Penning, F. A. and Thurston, G. A., "The stability of shallow
spherical shells under concentrated load," NASA-CR-265 (July
1965).
9
Penning, F. A., "Experimental buckling modes of clamped
shallow shells under concentrated load," J. Appl. Mech. 33, 297-
304 (1966).
10
Budiansky, B. and Hutchinson, J. W., "A survey of some
buckling problems," AIAA J. 4, 1505-1510 (1966).
11
Fitch, J. R., "Buckling and post-buckling behavior of
spherical caps under concentrated loads,'7 Ph.D. thesis, Harvard
Univ. (research in progress).
12
Bushnell, D., "Nonlinear axisymmetric analysis of shells
of revolution," AIAA J. 5, 432-439 (1967).
13
Thurston, G. A., "A numerical solution of the nonlinear
equations for axisymmetric bending of shallow spherical shells,"
J. Appl. Mech. 28, 557-562 (1961).
14
Thurston, G. A., "Newton's method applied to problems in
nonlinear mechanics," J. Appl. Mech. 32, 383-388 (1965).
15
Thurston, G. A. and Penning, F. A., "Effect of axisymmetric
imperfections on the buckling of spherical caps under uniform
pressure," AIAA J. 4, 319-327 (1966).
16
Bushnell, D., "Symmetric and nonsymmetric buckling of
finitely deformed eccentrically stiffened shells of revolution,"
AIAA Paper 67-110 (1967); also AIAA J. 5, 1455-1462 (1967).
17
Tsui, E. Y. W., Brogan, F. A., and Stern, P., "Juncture
stress fields in multicellular structures," Lockheed Missiles and
Space Co. Rept. M-77-65-5, Vol. 1 (August 1965).
18
Horton, W. H., Bailey, S. C., and McQuilkin, B. H., "An
introduction to instability," American Society for Testing
Materials Paper 219 (June 1966).
19
Yao, J. C., "Buckling of a truncated hemisphere under axial
tension," AIAA J. 1, 2316-2319 (1963).