STRUCTURAL MECHANICS – 2022-23

EXERCISE 2: SHELLS

ESERCISE 1
A A reservoir is filled with a pressurized fluid with p0 = 4 bar = 0,4 MPa.
B It is composed by a cylinder closed on top with a toroid and a sphere
R200 R2000 and on the bottom with a cone.
C
Calculate membrane forces in the toroid, in the sphere, in the cylinder
and in the cone (points A, B, C, D, E).
p
0
3000 [Solutions: sphere AB nq=nj=400 N/mm
Ø2000 toroid BC in B nj=400 N/mm nq=-3200 N/mm
toroid BC in C nj=200 N/mm nq=-600 N/mm
cylinder CD nj=200 N/mm. nq=400 N/mm
cone DE in D nj=400 N/mm. nq=800 N/mm
30° cone DE in E nj=19 N/mm. nq=38 N/mm]
D 550
E

Solution:

Due to geometrical discontinuities, the reservoir is split in 4 domains:

1- Spherical end plate AB

𝑅! = 2000 𝑚𝑚
𝑅! 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 400
2 𝑚𝑚
𝑛" 𝑛$
+ = 𝑝#
𝑟" 𝑟$

Meridian radius and circumferential radius are equal to sphere radius. Then:

𝑛" 𝑅! 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑟" -𝑝# − / = 𝑝# = 𝑛" = 400
𝑟" 2 𝑚𝑚

2- Toroid profile BC

Meridian and circumferential forces are:

𝑝𝑟 𝑝# [𝑅% − 𝑅& (1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑)]

𝑛" = =
2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑

𝑅% − 𝑅& (1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑) 𝑛"

𝑛$ = 8𝑝# − 9
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑 𝑅&
Or, more in general:

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 1

 𝑛"
𝑛$ = 𝑟$ -𝑝# − /
𝑟"

The point B corresponds to the transition between the sphere and the toroid. In that position the
meridian forces in the toroid are equal to the meridian forces in the sphere.

𝑅( 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 400
2 𝑚𝑚

In B the circumferential stress is calculated according to the toroid curvature and then with 𝑟" = 𝑅& =
200 𝑚𝑚 and 𝑟$ = 𝑅( = 2000 𝑚𝑚. Then:
𝑛" 𝑁
𝑛$ = 𝑟$ -𝑝# − / = −3200
𝑟" 𝑚𝑚

The point C corresponds to the transition between the toroid and the cylinder. In that position the
meridian forces in the toroid are:

𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 200
2 𝑚𝑚

In C the circumferential force is calculated according to the toroid curvature and then with 𝑟" = 𝑅& =
200 𝑚𝑚 and 𝑟$ = 𝑅) = 2000 𝑚𝑚. Then:
𝑛" 𝑁
𝑛$ = 𝑟$ -𝑝# − / = −600
𝑟" 𝑚𝑚

3- Cylinder CD

The meridian and circumferential forces in the cylinder are uniform and are related to the radius and to
pressure:
𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 200
2 𝑚𝑚
𝑁
𝑛$ = 2𝑛" = 𝑝# 𝑅) = 400
𝑚𝑚

4- Cone DE
The meridian and circumferential forces are:
𝑝# 𝑟
𝑛" =
2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑#
𝑝# 𝑟
𝑛$ =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑#

The point D corresponds to the transition between cylinder and cone and then:

𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 400
2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑# 𝑚𝑚
𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛$ = 𝑝# = 800
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑# 𝑚𝑚

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 2

 𝜑#

𝑅)

55
0
𝜑#

𝑅*
550
𝑡𝑔𝜑#

The point E corresponds to the transition with the flat end plate:

𝑅)

55
0
𝜑#

𝑅* 550
𝑡𝑔𝜑#

𝜑# = 30°
550
𝑅* = 𝑅) − = 47,37 𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑔𝜑#
𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# 𝑅* = 18,9
𝑚𝑚
𝑅* 𝑁
𝑛$ = 𝑝# = 37,9
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑# 𝑚𝑚

ESERCISE 2

A recipient is filled with a pressurized gas with

p0 = 1.5 MPa. The material is P275GH: E = 2.06×105
MPa, n = 0.29, Rp0.2 = 275 MPa. Calculate:
a) the stresses in the cylinder and in the spherical end
plate;
b) the safety factors in both parts;
c) the maximum bending moment per unit length
acting on the flat end plate;
d) the safety factor in the flat end plate.
R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 3
 [Solutions: a) cylinder sj=70 MPa sq=140 MPa sr=0 MPa
Sphere sj=sq=141 MPa sr=0 MPa
b) SFcyl=1,96 SFsph 1,95
c) mr,max=mc,max=-173496Nmm/mm, sid=163 MPa
d) SFpl=1,69]

Solution

𝑅( = 750 𝑚𝑚 𝑠 = 4 𝑚𝑚

𝑅( 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑛$ = 𝑝# = 562,5
2 𝑚𝑚
𝑛" 𝑛$
𝜎+ = 𝜎, = 𝜎" = 𝜎$ = = = 140,6 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑠 𝑠
𝜎- = 𝜎. = 0
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = 140,6 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑅1 #.,
𝐶𝑆 = = 1,96
𝜎/0

• stresses and safety factor in the cylinder

𝑅) = 750 𝑚𝑚 𝑠 = 8 𝑚𝑚

𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 562,5
2 𝑚𝑚
𝑛$ = 2𝑛" = 𝑝# 𝑅) = 1125 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑛$
𝜎+ = 𝜎$ = = 140,6 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑠
𝑛"
𝜎, = 𝜎" = = 70,3 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑠
𝜎- = 𝜎. = 0
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = 140,6 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑅1 #.,
𝑆𝐹𝑐𝑦𝑙 = = 1,96
𝜎/0

• Flat end plate: refer to plates simply supported on external edge.

3+𝜈
𝑛. = 8 9 𝑝# (𝑟 , − 𝑟3, )
16
1
𝑛% = 𝑝 [(1 + 3𝜈)𝑟 , − (3 + 𝜈)𝑟3, ]
16 #

On the axis (𝑟 = 0) the bending moment is maximum:

3+𝜈
𝑛.,567 = 𝑛%,567 = 𝑛567 = − 8 9 𝑝# 𝑟3, =
16
3+𝜈 𝑁𝑚𝑚
= −8 9 𝑝# 𝑅), = −173496
16 𝑚𝑚

The maximum stresses on the axis are:

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 4
 𝑠 = 80 𝑚𝑚
𝑛567
𝜎. = 𝜎% = 6 , = −162,7 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑠
𝜎8 = 0
Then
𝜎, = 𝜎- = 𝜎. = 𝜎%
𝜎+ = 𝜎8
and
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = 162,7 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑅1 #.,
𝐶𝑆 = = 1,69
𝜎/0

ESERCISE 3

Ø3000
A steel recipient is composed by a cylinder AB closed on
the bottom by a cone BC and a sphere CD, and on the top
A
by a flat plate.
It is filled by a fluid with p0 = 3 bar = 0.3 MPa. Calculate:
a) the membrane forces in shells;
2500 b) the maximum bending moment per unit length
p0
acting on the flat plate;
c) the minimum thickness of the different parts
assuming a safety factor 2 and a material yielding
limit Rp0.2 = 235 MPa.
B 30°
30° [Solutions: a) cylinder AB nj=225N/mm nq=450N/mm
C Cone BC nj=450N/mm nq=900N/mm
D R750
Sphere CD nj= nq=112,5 N/mm
b) Plate mr,max=mc,max=-139219 Mnn/mm
c) Cylinder s=3,83 mm, cone s=7,66 mm, sphere s=0,96
mm, plate s=84,3 mm]

Solution

• membrane forces:

Cylinder AB:
𝑅) = 1500 𝑚𝑚

𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 225
2 𝑚𝑚
𝑁
𝑛$ = 2𝑛" = 𝑝# 𝑅) = 450
𝑚𝑚
𝑛. = 0
Cone BC

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 5

 𝜑#
𝑟$
𝑅) 𝜑#

𝜑# = 30°

𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑝# = 450
2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑# 𝑚𝑚

𝑅) 𝑁
𝑛$ = 2𝑛" = 𝑝# = 900
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑# 𝑚𝑚
𝑛. = 0

Sphere CD
𝑅( = 750 𝑚𝑚

𝑅( 𝑁
𝑛" = 𝑛$ = 𝑝# = 112,5
2 𝑚𝑚

𝑛. = 0

• upper plate: circular plate, simply supported

𝑟3 = 𝑅) = 1500 𝑚𝑚

Moments per unit length:

3+𝜈
𝑚. = 8 9 𝑝# (𝑟 , − 𝑟3, )
16
1
𝑚% = 𝑝 [(1 + 3𝜈)𝑟 , − (3 + 𝜈)𝑟3, ]
16 #

On the axis of the plate the bending moments are maximum (𝑟 = 0): 𝑚567
3+𝜈
𝑚.,567 = 𝑚%,567 = 𝑚567 = − 8 9 𝑝# 𝑟3, =
16
3+𝜈 𝑁𝑚𝑚
= −8 9 𝑝# 𝑅), = −139219
16 𝑚𝑚

To calculate the minimum required thickness according to material properties (Rp02=235 MPa) and to
safety factor (SFs=2):

In the cylinder AB:

𝑛$ 450
𝜎+ = 𝜎$ = = 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡 𝑡

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 6

 𝑛" 225
𝜎, = = 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡𝑐𝑦𝑙 𝑡𝑐𝑦𝑙
𝜎- = 𝜎. = 0
Then
𝑛$ 450
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = 𝜎$ = = 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡𝑐𝑦𝑙 𝑡𝑐𝑦𝑙
𝑅1#.,
𝜎/0 =
𝑆𝐹𝑠
and
𝑛$ 𝑅1#.,
=
𝑡𝑐𝑦𝑙 𝑆𝐹𝑠
𝑛$ 𝑆𝐹𝑠
𝑡%9: = = 3,83 𝑚𝑚
𝑅1#.,

In the cone BC:

𝑛$ 900
𝜎+ = 𝜎$ = = 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡𝑐 𝑡𝑐
𝑛" 450
𝜎, = = 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡𝑐 𝑡𝑐
𝜎- = 𝜎. = 0
Then:
𝑛$
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = 𝜎$ =
𝑡𝑐
𝑅1#.,
𝜎/0 =
𝑆𝐹𝑠
𝑆𝐹𝑠
𝑡% = 𝑛$ = 7,66 𝑚𝑚
𝑅1#.,

In sphere CD:
𝑛$ 𝑛$ 112,5
𝜎+ = 𝜎, = 𝜎$ = 𝜎, = = = 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝜎- = 𝜎. = 0
Then:
𝑛$
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = 𝜎$ =
𝑠
𝑅1#.,
𝜎/0 =
𝐶𝑆
𝐶𝑆
𝑠!*3.6 = 𝑛$ = 0,96 𝑚𝑚
𝑅1#.,

Nella piastra piana:

Al centro (𝑟 = 0) so che
3+𝜈 𝑁𝑚𝑚
𝑛.,567 = 𝑛%,567 = 𝑛567 = − 8 9 𝑝# 𝑟3, = 139219
16 𝑚𝑚
𝜎+ = 𝜎8 = 0
𝑛567
𝜎, = 𝜎- = 𝜎. = 𝜎% = 6 ,
𝑠
R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 7
 𝑛567
𝜎/0 = 𝜎+ − 𝜎- = −𝜎. = −6 ,
𝑠
𝑅1#.,
𝜎/0 =
𝐶𝑆
𝑛567 𝐶𝑆
𝑠1/6!&.6 = O−6 , = 84,3 𝑚𝑚
𝑠 𝑅1#.,

ESERCISE 4
A tank is composed by a cylinder open and with a hemispherical
lower endplate. It is filled of water. The tank is constrained on the
upper edge.
Calculate stresses and displacements in characteristic points.
Data:
R =1m
h=3m
t= 0,01 m
G = 9,81 m/s2
E = 210000 MPa
n =0,3
r =1000 kg/m3

Solution

Sphere:

Considering the column of water on the hemisphere, in the part subtended by the angle q, the following
forces are acting:
• the weight W of the volume subtended by the angle q:
𝑟 = 𝑅 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
2 ,
𝑉(𝜃) = 𝜋𝑅 (𝑅 − 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)
3
nj

W(q) 2
𝑊(𝜃) = 𝜌𝑔𝑉(𝜃) = 1000 ∙ 9,8 ∙ 𝜋1, (1 − 1 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)
3
𝑊(𝜃) = 20515(1 − 1 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

The column of water is:

ℎ&;& (𝜃) = ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

The corresponding pressure contribution is:

𝑝&;& (𝜃) = 𝜌𝑔(ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

The equilibrium of forces is:

𝑊(𝜃) + 𝑝(𝜃)𝜋𝑟 , − 2𝜋𝑟 ∙ 𝑛" ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 8

 𝑊(𝜃) + 𝑝(𝜃)𝜋𝑟 ,
𝑛" =
2𝜋𝑟 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
2
𝜌𝑔 3 𝜋𝑅, (𝑅 − 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) + 𝜌𝑔(ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)𝜋(𝑅 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃),
𝑛" =
2𝜋𝑅 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
1 ,
𝜌𝑔 3 𝑅 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) 𝜌𝑔(ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)𝑅
= +
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 , 2

𝜌𝑔𝑅, (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) 𝜌𝑔𝑅(ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

𝑛" = +
3𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 , 2

And
𝑛" 𝑛"
𝑛%/.% = 𝑟%/.% -𝑝(𝜃) − / = 𝑛%/.% = 𝑟 X𝑝(𝜃) − Y
𝑟" 𝑅

𝜌𝑔𝑅, (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) 𝜌𝑔𝑅(ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

+ 2
𝑛%/.% = 𝑅 ∙ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 Z𝜌𝑔(ℎ + 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) − 3𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 , [
𝑅

These two functions can be plotted for angles between 0° and 90°

25000

20000

15000
N/m

10000

5000

0
0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8
angle [rad]

meridian force circumferential force

And, in particular:
for q=90° (boundary and connection with cylinder)
𝑁
𝑛" = 17986
𝑚
𝑛%/.% = 11451
𝑛"
𝜎" = = 1,8 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡
𝑛%/.%
𝜎%/.% = = 1,1 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡
R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 9
 𝜎8 = 𝑝(90°) = −0,03 𝑀𝑃𝑎

for q=0° (bottom of sphere)

𝑁
𝑛" = 22890
𝑚
𝑁
𝑛%/.% = 0
𝑚
𝑛"
𝜎" = = 2,3 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡
𝑛%/.%
𝜎%/.% = = 0 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡

𝜎8 = 𝑝(0°) = −0,04 𝑀𝑃𝑎

The ideal stress for q=90° is (inner edge):

𝜎/0 = 1,8 𝑀𝑃𝑎

The ideal stress for q=0° is (inner edge):

𝜎/0 = 2,3 𝑀𝑃𝑎

Cylinder:

The pressure is related to the height of the column of water.

The weight is related to the total volume of water.
Let’s consider a section of the cylinder at coordinate z:

the volume of the selected part is:

2
𝑉(𝑧) = 𝜋𝑅- + 𝜋𝑅, (ℎ − 𝑧)
z 3

The corresponding weight of this part is:

2
𝑊(𝑧) = 𝜌𝑔 ∙ 𝑉(𝑧) = 𝜌𝑔 ∙ 8 𝜋𝑅- + 𝜋𝑅, (ℎ − 𝑧)9
3

The column of water is z

The corresponding pressure is:

𝑝(𝑧) = 𝜌𝑔 ∙ 𝑧

The equilibrium of forces is:

𝑊(𝑧) + 𝑝(𝑧)𝜋𝑅, − 2𝜋𝑅 ∙ 𝑛" = 0

𝑊(𝑧) + 𝑝(𝑧)𝜋𝑅,
𝑛" =
2𝜋𝑅
For z=0:
R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 10
 𝑛" = 5500 𝑁/𝑚
𝑛"
𝑛%/.% = 𝑅 X𝑝(0) − Y = 0
∞
𝑛"
𝜎" = = 0,05 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡
𝑛%/.%
𝜎%/.% = = 0 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡

For z=h:
𝑛" = 17986 𝑁/𝑚

𝑛"
𝑛%/.% = 𝑅 X𝑝(ℎ) − Y = 29430 𝑁/𝑚
∞
𝑛"
𝜎" = = 1,8 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡
𝑛%/.%
𝜎%/.% = = 2,9 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑡

In the connection section between cylinder ans sphere the circumferential stresses differ. This is due to
the different distribution of stresses in the two geometric configurations.
This gap is actually filled by the edge effect which are not required to be considered in the present
analysis

For what concerns radial displacements:

𝑢
𝜀%/.% =
𝑟

𝑢 = 𝜀%/.% 𝑅
𝜎%/.% 𝜈
𝜀%/.% = − b𝜎" + 𝜎. c
𝐸 𝐸

In the connection between cylinder and sphere, from the “sphere side”:

1,1 0,3
𝜀%/.% = − (1,8 − 0,3) = 3 ∙ 10<=
210000 210000
𝑢 = 3 ∙ 10<= ∙ 1000 = 3 ∙ 10<- 𝑚𝑚

From the “cylinder side”

2,9 0,3
𝜀%/.% = − (1,8 − 0,3) = 1,12 ∙ 10<>
210000 210000
𝑢 = 1,12 ∙ 10<> ∙ 1000 = 1,12 ∙ 10<, 𝑚𝑚

R. Sesana – Politecnico di Torino Structural Mechanics SHELLS– 2022-23 11