A mill shell comprising: a plurality of mill shell sections connected together, each of said mill shell sections having an arcuate outer surface and at least one flange (11, 12) connected to said outer surface for connecting adjacent mill shell sections together said mill shell section to another mill shell section, characterized in that the mill shell further comprises one or more stress distribution elements for a joint of the mill shell, the stress distribution element comprising an elongated body having a proximal end for connecting said stress distribution element to said mill shell joint and a distal end, wherein said elongated body varies in one dimension from said proximal end to said distal end to widely distribute stress from said proximal end to said distal end, or a stress distribution assembly, wherein said stress distribution assembly comprises a hub (91, 96) and a plurality of said stress distribution elements, said hub connected to the respective proximal ends of each said stress distribution element, said hub being connectable to said mill shell joint, wherein said stress distribution elements extend substantially parallel to each other or substantially divergently from said hub, or a stress distribution system, wherein said stress distribution system comprises a plurality of said stress distribution elements, wherein said stress distribution elements are connectable at their respective proximal ends to said mill shell joint, said stress distribution elements extending substantially parallel to each other or substantially divergently from said mill shell joint, wherein two mill shell sections each have respective linear flanges connected together to form a longitudinal flange extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said mill shell and respective arcuate flanges for connecting said two mill shell sections to a third mill shell section; wherein said third mill shell section comprising an arcuate flange connected to said respective arcuate flanges of said two mill shell sections to form a circumferential flange extending along the circumference of said mill shell, wherein said longitudinal flange and said circumferential flange (11, 12) are connected to each other to form a mill shell joint, and wherein said proximal end of each said stress distribution element or said hub of said stress distribution assembly is connected to said mill shell joint to distribute stress forces from said mill shell joint. a plurality of mill shell sections connected together, each of said mill shell sections having an arcuate outer surface and at least one flange (11, 12) connected to said outer surface for connecting adjacent mill shell sections together said mill shell section to another mill shell section, characterized in that the mill shell further comprises one or more stress distribution elements for a joint of the mill shell, the stress distribution element comprising an elongated body having a proximal end for connecting said stress distribution element to said mill shell joint and a distal end, wherein said elongated body varies in one dimension from said proximal end to said distal end to widely distribute stress from said proximal end to said distal end, or a stress distribution assembly, wherein said stress distribution assembly comprises a hub (91, 96) and a plurality of said stress distribution elements, said hub connected to the respective proximal ends of each said stress distribution element, said hub being connectable to said mill shell joint, wherein said stress distribution elements extend substantially parallel to each other or substantially divergently from said hub, or a stress distribution system, wherein said stress distribution system comprises a plurality of said stress distribution elements, wherein said stress distribution elements are connectable at their respective proximal ends to said mill shell joint, said stress distribution elements extending substantially parallel to each other or substantially divergently from said mill shell joint, wherein two mill shell sections each have respective linear flanges connected together to form a longitudinal flange extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said mill shell and respective arcuate flanges for connecting said two mill shell sections to a third mill shell section; wherein said third mill shell section comprising an arcuate flange connected to said respective arcuate flanges of said two mill shell sections to form a circumferential flange extending along the circumference of said mill shell, wherein said longitudinal flange and said circumferential flange (11, 12) are connected to each other to form a mill shell joint, and wherein said proximal end of each said stress distribution element or said hub of said stress distribution assembly is connected to said mill shell joint to distribute stress forces from said mill shell joint.