Snap-through Buckling of Shallow Spherical Shells under Ring Loads

Snap-through buckling behaviour of rigid vinly polyethlene shallow spherical shells, undergoing large displacements, subjected to static ring loads is investigated by using finite differences and Newton-Raphson Method. The load-deflection diagrams corresponding to various values of thickness, depth and ring diameter of the shell with simply supported and clamped edges are drawn and compared. The accuracy of the used algorithm and the prepared computer program are tested by comparing some of  the numerical results obtained in this study with those obtained by an experimental study, available in the relevant literature. Further steps on the concerning subject are achieved.