Stresses and pressures in thin-walled structures with damage and imperfections

This paper is a sequel to a recent book of the author, in which stress conc entrations and redistributions due to structural imperfections in thin-wall ed structures were reviewed. Here the emphasis is on other complementary as pects. Only shape damage and imperfections are considered in the paper, whi le intrinsic imperfections are out of the scope discussed. The mechanics of generation of damage is studied for several cases, including a relative in -plane displacement that induces an out-of-plane distortion; impact of an o bject on the structure; impact of the structure on a rigid surface; damage due to local buckling; and removal of part of the structure. Possible mecha nisms that lead to the generation of imperfections include errors in constr uction; influence of misfits and misalignments; welding; and design-imperfe ctions. Practical cases in which imperfections are measured and data banks of such information is also briefly reviewed. The field of mechanics of str ess redistributions, and the modeling of distortional damage using numerica l tools, are discussed with reference to previous publications by the autho r. New problems of changes in the pressures due to modifications in the sha pe are highlighted, with reference to the discharge of silos. Finally, seve ral areas are identified in which future developments are expected for the next five to ten years. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.