Ultimate tests of thick shells

Experimental investigation of the elastoplastic and ultimate load response of thick hemispheres with cylindrical skirts is presented. A shell with a hinged boundary condition, loaded symmetrically, and one having a fixed edge, with unsymmetric lateral load, were tested. Electrical-resistance bonded foil strain gages and photoelastic surface coatings were used in monitoring the strain response while spring-activated dial gages were used in recording displacements. Both panchromatic and color still photographs were utilized in observing the photoelastic patterns, while the failure mode of one model was recorded by means of high-speed motion pictures.