Study of nonlinear deformation and stability of reinforced shells under combined loading by a bending moment and a transverse boundary force

We present a finite-element statement for the solution of stability problems for reinforced elliptic cylindrical shells with moment properties and nonlinearity in their precritical stressstrain state taken into account. Integrating the equations obtained by equating the linear strain components with zero, we find explicit expressions for the displacements of elements of noncircular cylindrical shells as rigid bodies. Using these expressions, we construct the shape functions of a fourangle finite element of natural curvature and develop an effective algorithm for studying nonlinear deformation and stability of shells. We study the stability of reinforced elliptic cylindrical shells under combined loading by a transverse boundary force and a bending moment and investigate how the ellipticity of the shells and the nonlinearity of deformation at the precritical stage affect the shell stability.