thickshell

Thickshell is not a term with a single universal definition. In technical literature, it is used informally to describe hollow structures or layers whose wall thickness is substantial relative to their overall size. The term appears across disciplines, including engineering, materials science, geoscience, and biology, where it helps distinguish thick-walled shells from thin-shell approximations.

In engineering, thick-shell or thick-walled shell theory addresses stress and deformation in vessels and shells whose wall thickness cannot be neglected. Unlike thin-shell models, thick-shell analysis uses the full equations of elasticity (often Lame-type formulations) and may require numerical methods such as finite element analysis.

In biology and paleontology, thick-shelled organisms have shells or exoskeletons that provide protection against predation and environmental conditions; examples include certain mollusks and brachiopods. The phrase is often used descriptively in taxonomic or paleoenvironmental discussions.

In materials science and manufacturing, thick shells may pose fabrication and integrity challenges, such as thermal stresses and buckling. Design and testing considerations differ from thin-shell cases, with emphasis on wall stiffness, residual stresses, and failure modes.

The term is largely descriptive and context-dependent, with its precise meaning varying by field. For readers seeking more rigorous treatment, related concepts include thick-walled vessel theory, thick-shell elasticity, and comparisons to thin-shell approximations.