ABSTRACT
Axisymmetric thin shells are common structural elements and are found in many areas of engineering. They have the advantages of being structurally efficient and relatively easy to fabricate. The cylinder is the most common form of the axisymmetric shell, but other examples are spheres, cones and toroids. Their use includes pressure vessels, cooling towers, wheels, tyres and turbine engine components. Their use spans all branches of engineering. They form efficient structures because they can be designed to carry loads by membrane action over most of their length. Problems arise where different shells are interconnected, where loads are applied, or where there is any other form of discontinuity. Local self-equilibrating stress systems are set up at the points of such discontinuities, and a major part of the analysis of axisymmetric shells consists of calculating these discon tinuity stresses.
