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Model investigations of unstiffened and stiffened circular shells

Test techniques used in evaluation of the effect of internal pressure on stability of shells used in modern aircraft and missiles are described; also, conclusions derived from the results are presented and discussed

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Abstract

In 1951, an extensive review of the literature indicated that only a limited amount of test data was available to evaluate the effect of internal pressure on the stability of unstiffened and stiffened circular cylindrical shells. In addition, data on the postbuckling strength of stiffened cylinders were also limited. Because of the importance of the cylindrical shell in missile construction, an extensive investigation was initiated to provide such data. The present paper includes a description of the test techniques used in these investigations and some conclusions derived from the results.

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Abbreviations

A :

total sheet area (2 πrt)

A g :

area of all stringers

E :

modulus of elasticity

G :

shear modulus

L :

length of cylinder

R p :

ratio of internal pressure to critical external pressure (p/p 0 )

R s :

ratio of critical shear stress with internal pressure to critical shear stress under torsion alone (τ/τ 0)

T cr :

panel buckling torque

a :

spacing of ring stiffeners

b :

spacing of stringers

p :

internal pressure

p 0 :

critical external pressure (considered negative)

r :

radius of cylinder

t :

thickness of cylinder

t s :

thickness of stringer material

θ:

angle of buckles with longitudinal axis of cylinder

μ:

Poisson's ratio

σ1 :

longitudinal sheet stress

σa :

average axial stress (total end pressure load divided by area of skin and stringers)

σ s :

stringer stress

τ:

critical shear stress with internal pressure

τ0 :

critical shear stress under torsion alone

References

  1. Harris, L. A., Suer, H. S., Skene, W. T., andBenjamin, R. J., “The Stability of Thin-Walled Unstiffened Circular Cylinders Under Axial Compression Including the Effects of Internal Pressure,”Jnl. Aero. Sci., 24, No. 8, 587–596 (August 1957).

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  2. Suer, H. S., Harris, L. A., Skene, W. T., andBenjamin, R. J., “The Bending Stability of Thin-Walled Unstiffened Circular Cylinders Including the Effects of Internal Pressure,”,25, No. 5, 281–2870 (May 1958).

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  3. Harris, L. A., Suer, H. S., andSkene, W. T., “The Effect of Internal Pressure on the Buckling Stress of Thin-Walled Cylinders Under Combined Axial Compression and Torsion,”,25, No. 2, 142–143 (February 1958).

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  4. Suer, H. S., andHarris, L. A., “The Stability of Thin-Walled Cylinders Under Combined Torsion and External Lateral or Hydrostatic Pressure,”Jnl. Appl. Mech., 81, series E, No. 1, 138–140 (March 1959).

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  5. Crate, H., Batdorf, S. B., and Baab, G. W., “The Effect of Internal Pressure on the Buckling Stress of Thin-Walled Circular Cylinders Under Torsion,” NACA L4E27, May 1944.

  6. Hopkins, H. C., and Brown, E. H., “The Effect of Internal Pressure on the Initial Buckling of Thin-Walled Circular Cylinders Under Torsion,” British Aeronautical Research Council, R&M No. 2423, January 1950.

  7. Batdorf, S. B., “A Simplified Method of Elastic-Stability Analysis for Thin Cylindrical Shells,” NACA Report 874, 1947.

  8. Martin, V. I., and Smith, N. Y., “Relation Between Stringer Stress and Longitudinal Sheet Stress in a Reinforced Cylindrical Shell Under Internal Pressure,” Aerophysics Laboratory Report PDM-8, North American Aviation, Inc., October 1950.

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formerly Senior Structures Engineer, S&ID

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Harris, L.A., Suer, H.S. & Skene, W.T. Model investigations of unstiffened and stiffened circular shells. Experimental Mechanics 1, 1–9 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02324123

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