Buckling of Externally Pressurised Prolate Ellipsoidal Domes Available to Purchase

Details are given of a numerical and experimental study into buckling of steel ellipsoidal domes loaded by static external pressure. A range of geometries and thicknesses of domes is examined, as is the influence of different boundary conditions. Shells are examined on the basis of having the same mass. The main focus of the study is on prolate domes, i.e., those taller than a hemisphere of the same base radius. Numerical predictions are confirmed by pressurising six laboratory scale prolate domes to destruction. Details are given of the manufacture and test procedure for the domes. The adverse effects of variations in shape, and wall thickness are discussed, and FE predictions are made for geometrically imperfect domes. Correlation between the two sets of results is good. Numerical and experimentally obtained results are related to the current design codes: ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 2 (described hereon as ASME VIII), PD5500, and ECCS recommendations [1–3], which at present make no provision for prolate domes. Suggestions are made for the possible inclusion of such domes into the standards.