Influence of Stiff Equatorial Rings on Concrete Spherical Hulls Subjected to Hydrostatic Loading.

Abstract

Thirteen hollow concrete spheres were assembled from hemispheres fastened together with equatorial joint rings of different stiffness. The joint rings were made from polycarbonate plastic, glass reinforced plastic laminate, aluminum, titanium, low carbon steel, and alloy steel. The spheres were tested to destruction under external hydrostatic loading. Equatorial joints that are either considerably stiffer or more compliant than concrete lower the short-term implosion pressure of the concrete spheres by as much as 27%; the glass reinforced plastic joint ring did not significantly reduce the implosion pressure. It is recommended that equatorial joint rings be designed to have a stiffness approximately equal to that of the concrete shell and be made of glass reinforced plastic. If stiffer joint rings are used, the operational pressure should be 30% lower than that of a sphere without a mechanical lock joint mechanism. (Author-PL)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0731352

Entities

People

  • J. D. Stachiw
  • L. F. Kahn

Organizations

  • Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alloys
  • Aluminum
  • Carbon Steels
  • Concrete
  • Hemispheres
  • Implosions
  • Laminated Plastics
  • Laminates
  • Materials
  • Steel
  • Stiffness
  • Titanium

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Structural Dynamics.