Dynamic response of curved pipes

The problem of the linear elastic response of a thin curved pipe subjected to a local impulsive loading is considered. A series solution based on the Sanders shell theory is developed in the toroidal coordinate system. This solution covers the case of a pipe with arbitrary circular curvature of the torus center line. The loading is represented as a double series in the geometric variables, and direct time integration is carried out using the Newmark method. Sample results are presented for loadings concentrated at the intrados and extrados for both short and long pipes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.