Membrane analysis and optimization of submerged domes with allowance for selfweight and skin cover load

This paper is concerned with membrane analysis and optimal design of submerged domes. In addition to hydrostatic pressure, domes are also subjected to selfweight and skin cover load, which are invariably present in these types of structures. Using the membrane theory for thin shells and by adopting a fully stressed design, equations governing the meridional curve of submerged domes are derived with allowance for selfweight and skin cover load. A set of nonlinear differential equations, which correspond to a two-point boundary problem, is solved by the shooting-optimization method. Based on a family of fully stressed designs associated with a given water depth and dome height, the optimal dome shape for minimum weight is determined.