ABSTRACT
In sandwich shells, because of their initial curvature, bending moments give rise to transverse normal stresses in the core. Due to limited resistance of the sandwich core to radial displacements, local thickness changes can occur; that could alter the structural stiffnesses locally. A shell is a thin-walled body whose middle surface is curved in at least one direction. For instance, a cylindrical shell and a conical shell have only one direction in which the middle surface is curved. On the other hand, in a spherical shell there is curvature in both directions. Such common items as a front fender of a car or an eggshell are examples of double curvature in shells. Shell structures involve very complicated, lengthy equations that are further lengthened when the shell is composed of an anisotropic material such as any one of many fiber reinforced, composite materials.
