ABSTRACT
It is important to note that membrane forces are independent of bending and are completely defined by the conditions of static equilibrium. As no material properties are used in the derivation of these forces, the membrane theory applies to all shells made of any material (e.g., metal, fabric, reinforced concrete, sandwich shell, soap film, gridwork shell, and plywood). Various relationships developed for bending theory in the following chapters, excluding Sections 15.11 and 15.12, are restricted to homogeneous, elastic, isotropic shells. A number of references in the analysis and design of shell-like structures are available for those seeking a more thorough treatment [1-17].
