Buckling of externally pressurised barreled shells: a comparison of experiment and theory

摘要

Details of collapse tests of two cylindrical and four bowed out mild steel shells are provided. The diameter of the tested shells was about 200 mm, their length varied from 75 to 100 mm whilst the wall thickness was about 3 mm. Experimental buckling/collapse pressures varied from 8 to 22 MPa. Zero radial displacements and zero rotations have been implemented at both ends of all tested shells. The sensitivity of buckling/collapse pressures to the initial, eigenmode type geometric imperfections has been assessed for both cylindrical and bowed out geometries. It appears that barreling does not necessarily increase the sensitivity of buckling pressure to shape deviations from perfect geometry. Good agreement has been obtained between experimental results on these computer numerically controlled (CNC)-machined models and numerical predictions. Results show that, on a like-for-like basis, barrels were able to support a pressure 85 percent higher than mass equivalent cylinders.