Experimental Evaluation of Circular Cylindrical Shells with Cutouts Under the Combined Effect of Structural and Thermal Loads

Abstract

The present work deals with the design, development, and testing of circular cylindrical shells with cutouts under the effect of both structural and thermal loads. Such shells are widely used in missile and aircraft structures. The main aim behind this experimentation is (i) to validate the design of the circular cylindrical shell against the proof loads, (ii) to monitor the deflections and temperatures at critical locations, and (iii) to evaluate the structural integrity of the shells under the given structural and thermal loads. In the present experiment, the cylindrical shell (width ∅1000 mm and length of 1350 mm) will be subjected to a bending moment of 15.5 kN-m along with two mutually perpendicular thrust loads of 30 kN each at cutouts and a time-varying temperature profile with a maximum temperature of 635 K. Here a closed-loop control strategy is established for the simulating the time-varying thermal loads on the shell structure. The cylindrical shell was successfully qualified for the above-said loading conditions, and the test results are analyzed and presented in this manuscript.