  Motivated by recent work indicating that the UV continuum in AGN may be
produced by reradiation of energy absorbed from X-rays irradiating an accretion
disk, we present a calculation of the vertical structures and ultraviolet
spectra of X-ray irradiated accretion disks around massive non-rotating black
holes. After finding the radial dependence of vertically-integrated quantities
for these disks, we solve the equations of hydrostatic equilibrium, energy
balance, and frequency-dependent radiation transfer as functions of altitude.
To solve the last set of equations, we use a variable Eddington factor method.
We include electron scattering, free-free, and HI, HeI, and HeII bound-free
opacities and the corresponding continuum cooling processes.
  While the overall spectral shape predicted by X-ray irradiation may be
compatible with observations, the Lyman edge emission feature it predicts is
not. This finding raises questions for many otherwise plausible models in which
X-ray irradiation plays a major role.
