THE LARGE DEFLECTION OF CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS ON A KERR FOUNDATION

The non-linear static behaviour of cylindrical shells resting on a Ker r type elastic foundation is investigated in detail. The influence of shell and foundation parameters on the load deflection relationship ar e also studied in detail. It is noticed that by assigning extreme valu es to certain foundation variables, the Kerr model can be reduced to c orrespond with the Winkler or Pasternak model. It is found that an inc rease in curvature, in Poisson's ratio, in shear layer or lower spring layer modulus results in reduced shell deflection. Further study reve als that shells with immovable edges are more sensitive to changes in geometry and to material and foundation variables than the ones with m ovable edges. This is true in the case of both static and dynamic anal yses for clamped as well as for simply supported edges.