A bar finite element analogy for echinodome shells

The frame analogy has been used to simulate the meridian of the Echinodome shell by beam elements and the circumferential stiffness by springs. The beam analogue of the Echinodome has been used to analyse the shell for a concentrated apex load and for uniform external pressure. The beam stresses are processed to find the shell stress resultants and the results are found to be in agreement with those given by Royles and Llambias [Comput. Struct. 29, 527-530 (1988)]. The degeneration of the beam modelling the meridian into a truss for hydrostatic pressure is reported and the usefulness of this concept in the generation of the Echinodome shape is shown. © 1989.