Analysis of elastic conical shells of variable thickness with rib-reinforcement

Abstract

Circular conical shells of an elastic material subjected to the static distributed lateral pressure are studied under the assumption of
axial symmetry. The shell with variable thickness is strengthened with the help of circular ribs. Necessary optimality conditions are derived using theory of optimal control. The case of the shell with a singular circular rib is treated in greater detail. The optimal position of the stiffener is established when the cost function coincides with the mean deflection of the shell.