Third-order shear deformation theory for stress analysis of a thick conical shell under pressure

Abstract

The stresses and displacements of a thick conical shell with varying thickness under nonuniform internal pressure have been calculated analytically using third-order shear deformation theory. The governing equations, which are a system of differential equations with variable coefficients, have been solved analytically with the matched asymptotic expansion of the perturbation theory. The effects of higherorder approximations on the radial and axial displacements, von Mises stress, and shear stress have been studied. The results have been compared with the finite elements analysis. © 2010 Mathematical Sciences Publishers.