Large deformation model of flat-topped conical shell under axial compression

Based on experimental observations, a large deformation mechanism is identified of a griddomed textile composite with flat-topped conical shells under compression. Accordingly, an analytical model is developed, in this paper, to describe the collapse mode and predict the loaddisplacement and energy dissipation characteristics. The energies dissipated in bending along plastic hinge lines and in stretching of the thin-walls between the hinge lines are incorporated into the model. The analytical expressions describing the load-displacement and energy-displacement relationships during the large deformation process are derived. The numerical results are presented and show good agreement with experimental results.