Load Distribution at the Intersection of Several Coaxial Axisymmetric Shells

A relaxation analysis of the load distribution at the intersection of several axisymmetric coaxial shells is presented. The relaxation process leads to an infinite power series, the summation of which yields explicit expressions for the individual shell loads. The shells are all assumed to be unconstrained axially, thus eliminating axial interaction effects among them. The analysis, consequently, is restricted to radial shear forces and distributed moments at the intersection line, which is taken in a plane perpendicular to the common axis of the shells. Methods of treating temperature and pressure effects are described, and an illustrative example of the analysis of a three-shell intersection is included.