Optimization of clamped plastic shallow shells subjected to initial impulsive loading

Abstract

An optimization technique is suggested for shallow spherical shells made of a ductile material and subjected to initial impact loading. The shell under consideration is pierced with a central hole and clamped at the outer edge. The optimal design of the shell of piece-wise constant thickness is established under the condition that the maximal residual deflection attains its minimal value for given total weight. The material of the shell is assumed to obey the Tresca yield condition and associated flow law. By the use of the method of mode form motions the problem is transformed into a particular problem of non-linear programming and solved numerically. Keywords: Plastic ShellsImpulsive LoadingStructural Optimization