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An experimental study of the buckling of open cylindrical shells

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Abstract

A description is given in this paper of part of a larger study directed toward the investigation of the buckling characteristics of thin, open cylindrical shells. The load-deflection response of transversely loaded shells is treated in this study. A subsequent paper will deal with the behavior of end-loaded open shells.

Measured values of buckling loads are compared with analytical predictions based on the presumption that prior to the onset of buckling the shell material behaves elastically but large deflections of the shell surface may occur.

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Abbreviations

B :

half circumferential width of shell

B hijk :

generalized nonlinear finite-difference-equation coefficients

D :

flexural stiffness of shell

E :

modulus of elasticity

F :

stress function

G ij :

gradient coefficients

L :

length of shell

l :

number of equations

M x ,M y :

bending moments per unit width of shell strips in x, y directions

M xy ,M yx :

torsional moments per unit width of shell strips in x, y directions

m,n :

number of intervals in x and y directions, respectively

p :

transverse load per unit projected area of shell

r i :

solutions of nonlinear equations

R :

radius of cylindrical shell

s i :

trial values forr i

t :

shell thickness

u,v,w :

displacements in x, y and z directions, respectively

V y :

reaction force per unit width of shell strip in y direction

x,y,z :

longitudinal, circumferential and radial coordinates, respectively

\(\bar x,\bar y\) :

dimensionless x and y coordinates

\(\bar w\) :

dimensionless radial displacement

α:

reference length

γ:

membrane shearing strain

ɛ x , ɛ y :

axial strain in x and y directions, respectively

μ:

Poisson's ratio

ξ:

error in equationi using trial solutions i

σ x , σ y :

membrane stresses in x and y directions, respectively

τ:

membrane shear stress

ϕ:

dimensionless stress function

ψ:

half subtended angle of shell

▽4 :

biharmonic operator

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pullman-Standard Research, Hammond, IN

    T. H. Yang (Mechanical Engineer)

  2. Illinois Institute of Technology, 60616, Chicago, IL

    S. A. Guralnick (Professor of Civil Engineering)

Authors
  1. T. H. Yang
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  2. S. A. Guralnick
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Yang, T.H., Guralnick, S.A. An experimental study of the buckling of open cylindrical shells. Experimental Mechanics 15, 121–127 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02318847

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02318847

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