Deflection and snapping of spherical caps (Q1090130)

This paper treats the finite axisymmetric deflection and snapping of spherical caps which are point loaded at the apex and simply supported at the boundary. The problem is formulated using a stationary potential energy principle and solved numerically. The response of caps up to critical loads and into the postbuckling regime to eversion and beyond is studied and detailed. Phenomena such as snapthrough, snapback, multiple load free equilibria, eversion and irreversibility, are found to occur.