The analysis of cylindrical shell roofs with post tensioned edge beams

A new characteristic equation for cylindrical shell roofs is developed, together with a method for obtaining the solution and its derivatives. Post tension is introduced into the edge beam by shearing forces varying linearly from a maximum at the transverse to zero at the quarter points. The Fourier series for this converges rapidly. An end correction is then made to restore the post tension to the end of the edge beam and obtain compatibility of strain with the shell edge. The method is compared with experimental results on a model shell and with the results of a finite element program.