Effects of thermal impact on a thin spherical cap

Because of the importance of thin shells as structural elements in all aircraft and missile vehicles, the response of the shell to transient thermal loads is of extreme interest. At very high heating rates, as can be produced by the absorption of intense radiation energy, dynamic mechanical response of the structure may be produced. This paper describes a brief exploratory investigation of the effects of short-duration, high-intensity thermal radiation exposure of a thin-shell structure. Exposure of a spherical cap in a arc-image furnance failed to produce buckling under the test conditions. Rapid thermal rupture, however, did result in interesting failure surfaces.