Abstract
The propagation of the stress waves in thick circular cylindrical shells subjected to radially symmetric loads is investigated. Exact analysis is developed using the method of eigenfunction expansion based on the three dimensional theory of elastodynamics. The impact load applied is a uniformly distributed load over the outer surface of the shell. Numerical calculations are made for the steel shells, and stresses variations at transient states of the shells are shown graphically. The present results can be served as a reference to approximate solutions using numerical approaches such as the finite element method.
