Experimental work with model concrete shells is described. The shells were 9 ft long, 3 ft wide and 1/2 in. thick. Seventeen shells were tested, the main purpose of the tests being to examine the stresses near the end traverse, and particularly in the corner of the shell. The results are compared with those obtained analytically (a) when the disturbance from the longitudinal straight edge is considered and (b) when the disturbance from the curved end is also taken into account. The latter analysis predicts much higher corner stresses than the former. Although the experimental results are generally in better agreement with the first method of analysis, stresses considerably in excess of this were encountered in some instances.
W.M. Newman and A.S. Hall