An analysis was developed to calculate the minimum mass-strength curve for an orthotropic cylinder subjected to axial compressive loading. The analysis, which includes the effects of ring and stringer eccentricities, is in a general form so that various cylinder wall and stiffener geometries can be considered. Several different ring-stiffened orthotropic configurations were studied. The minimum mass-strength curves and the dimensions associated with these curves are presented for (in order of decreasing efficiency) a tubular double bead, a nonsymmetric double bead, a Z-stiffened skin, and a trapezoidal corrugation. A comparison of efficiencies of the configurations shows a tubular element cylinder to be more efficient than a 3-percent core-density honeycomb-sandwich cylinder. It was found that for an optimized Z-stiffened skin, the location of the Z-stiffeners (internal or external) made a negligible difference in efficiency. (Author)
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