Stress analysis and torsional buckling analysis of U-shaped bellows

摘要

This paper presents analysis of elastic stress and torsional buckling of U-shaped bellows using ring elements. The expansion joint is modelled as the composition of the two toroidal sections and inner-connecting annular plates. The general thinshell theory is employed to derive strain-displacement relations of shells and plates to be applicable for any loading conditions. Numerical examples for internal pressure and axial loading are compared with the previous theoretical results. Thefundamental aspects of torsional buckling, which have not been studied previously, will also be investigated.