Thin-Walled Structures

three-dimensional structural components in which one dimension is small compared to the other two; they include shells, domes, arches, articulated plates, and membrane-type structures.

Thin-walled structures have a high load-carrying capacity, despite their small thickness. They are widely used in the construction industry because of their light weight and economy, particularly for long-span floors in industrial and public buildings and for storage structures for liquids and bulk materials, such as tanks, hoppers, silos, and coal houses. Thin-walled structures are especially suitable for use in constructing exhibition pavilions, concert halls, and sports arenas because the variety of available shapes permits great architectural expression, the covering of wide areas, and flexibility in the choice of construction materials, including steel, aluminum, reinforced concrete, and laminated plastic.

The design calculations required to estimate the strength, stability, and vibration of thin-walled structures are among the most complex problems encountered in structural design. In general, the calculations are limited to solutions of two-dimensional problems in elasticity or plasticity. Computers have been used to develop methods of calculation based on design schemes, which predict with sufficient accuracy the actual performance conditions and characteristics of the structures, for example, the yield of the supporting structure, the presence of stiffening elements, plastic deformation, variable wall thickness, and the formation of cracks.