ABSTRACT
Many structure members can be categorized as plates and shells, which are extensions of the 1-D straight beams and curved beams to 2-D cases, respectively. Examples of structures that can be modeled as plates are shear walls, floor panels, and shelves, while those that can be modeled as shells include shell structures in nature (such as sea shells and egg shells), various containers, pipes, tanks, roofs of buildings (such as the superdome), and bodies of cars, boats, and aircrafts. Figure 6.1 shows an airplane (Boeing 787) that is constructed mainly using plate and shell structure members.
