A TYPICAL SPHERICAL DOME

•Geometry of spherical
domes

•Derivation of meridional &

hoop stresses
 GEOMETRY
A spherical dome may be defined as a thin shell
generated by the revolution of a regular curve about the
vertical axis.
Consider a section through the vertical axis as shown

r= Central Rise
R= Radius of Sphere
D= Diameter of Base
ϴ=Subtended angle at centre of sphere

(R-r) 2 + (D/2)2 =R2

R2-2Rr+r2 + (D/2)2= R2
r2+ (D/2)2=2Rr
(r2+ (D/2)2)/2r=R

(R-r) = Rcosϴ
D/2= Rsin ϴ
r = R-Rcos ϴ
rise =R(1-cos ϴ)
 DERIVATION OF MERIDIONAL AND HOOP STRESSES
From a section through the vertical axis of revolution of a thin
spherical shell as shown below, consider the equilibrium of an
elemental ring or zone bounded by two horizontal planes AB
and CD close together, of which the positions are defined by
the angles Ф and dФ in the illustration.

FIG. 2
 MERIDIONAL STRESSES
The forces acting on this elemental ring are:
1)A series of thrusts T per unit length of the circle of latitude AB down the lines of
longitude tangential to the surface.
2)A similar series of thrusts (T+ dT) per unit length acting up the lines of longitude also
tangential to the surface round the circle of latitude CD
3)The weight of the ring acting vertically downward.

The thrust T is caused by the weight of the dome shell ANB, whose surface area is 2 ᴨ r
x EN (rise)
If w is its weight per unit area its total weight is w x2 ᴨ r x EN and,
as EN = r(1- cos Ф) , the weight of the dome above the circle AB is given by:
Weight of dome above circle AB= w x2 ᴨ r2 (1-cos Ф )
The sum of the vertical components of all the thrusts T per unit length acting round
the circumference of the circle AB is equal in magnitude to the weight of the portion
of the dome above
Hence:
T cos (90- Ф) x2 ᴨ x EB = w x2 ᴨ r2 (1-cos Ф)
T cos (90- Ф) x2 ᴨ x rsin Ф = w x2 ᴨ r2 (1-cos Ф)
Tx2 ᴨrxsin2 Ф= w x2 ᴨ r2 (1-cos Ф)
Therefore T= w.r (1-cos Ф)/ sin2 Ф
 HOOP STRESSES
The difference of the opposing thrusts T and (T +dT) acting at the angles
Ф and (Ф+d Ф) respectively to the vertical causes the ring or hoop force
as follows:
Let H be the hoop force per unit length of surface measured on a great-
circle arc, that is, a line of longitude through the crown of the shell.
The breadth of the elemental ring in Fig. 2, measured on any such great
circle arc is rdФ and by definition the hoop force on the ring is Hx rdФ.
Also the component of T acting horizontally and radially from the
vertical axis is T cosФ.
This component in turn causes a hoop tension
T cosФ x radius which radius at this level is rsinФ. Hence the hoop
tension
due to T alone is T cosФ. x rsinФ.
At the same time the thrusts (T +dT) have a similar effect (T+ dT) cos
(Ф+d Ф) x r sin (Ф+d Ф) but in the opposite direction causing hoop
compression, and the
 HOOP STRESSES (CONT.)
difference of the two effects causes the actual hoop compression or
tension (whichever is greater) on the elemental ring.
It is therefore necessary to express these forces algebraically so that
their difference may be obtained.
The hoop force in the elemental ring is due to the change in the value of
T
when Ф is increased by a small amount d Ф, and when this increase
tends to zero:
-HrdФ = d[Tcos Фxrsin Ф]
-H = 1/r d/d Ф (Trcos Фsin Ф)

But T= w.r (1-cos Ф)/ sin2 Ф

-H = wr2/r d/d Ф[(1-cos Ф)/ sin2 Ф xsin Фcos Ф]
=wr.d/d Ф[cos Ф/sin Ф –cos2 Ф/sin Ф]
By applying product and quotient rules of differentiation,
We get:
H= wr[(1-cos Ф-cos2 Ф)/(1+cos Ф)]
When H=0,
(1-cos Ф-cos2 Ф)/(1+cos Ф)] =0
(1-cos Ф-cos2 Ф)=0
Solving the quadratic equation gives:
cos Ф= 0.618
Ф=510 48’
At this point, there is no hoop compression and no hoop
tension, and the plane through this circle is called the plane
of rupture.
The hoop stress is compressive up to Ф=510 48’ and if Ф is
greater than this angle the hoop stress is tensile
When Ф = zero, i.e. at the sphere’s crown then,
We have the maximum compressive force given by H=-wr/2
T= w.r (1-cos Ф)/ sin2 Ф
H= w.r[(1-cos Ф-cos2 Ф)/(1+cos Ф)]