• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.557-567
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• 2018

Cylindrical shell structures buckle at service loads which are much lower than their associated theoretical buckling loads. The main source of this discrepancy is the presence of various imperfections which are created on the cylinder body during different processes as manufacturing, handling, assembling and machining. Many cylindrical shell structures are still designed against buckling based on the experimental data introduced by NASA SP-8007 as conservative lower bound curves. This study employed the numerical based Linear Buckling mode shape Imperfection (LBMI) method and modified it using a stochastic method to assess the effect of geometrical imperfections in more details on the buckling of cylindrical shells with and without the cutout. The comparison of results with those obtained from the numerical Simcple Perturbation Load Imperfection (SPLI) method for cylinders with and without cutout revealed a good correlation. The effect of two parameters of size and number of cutouts on the buckling load was investigated using the linear buckling and Modified LBMI methods. Results confirmed that in cylinders with a small cutout inserting geometrical imperfection using either SPLI or modified LBMI methods significantly reduced the value of the predicted buckling load. However, in cylinders with larger cutouts, the effect of the cutout is dominant, thus considering geometrical imperfection had a minor effect on the buckling loads predicted by both SPLI and modified LBMI methods. Furthermore, the modified LBMI method was employed to evaluate the combination effect of cutout numbers and size on the buckling load. It is shown that in small cutouts, an increasing in the cutout size up to a certain value resulted in a remarkable reduction of the buckling load, and beyond that limit, the buckling loads were constant against D/R ratios. In addition, the cutout number shows a more significant effect on decreasing the buckling load at small D/R ratios than large D/R ratios.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.407-415
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• 1999

There are two kinds of instability phenomena for shell-type structures which are snap-through and bifurcation buckling. These are very sensitive according to the shape characteristics including rise-span ratio and especially shape initial imperfection. In this study, the equilibrium path of shallow sinusoidal arches supported by hinges at both ends is investigated to grasp the instability behavior of shell-type structures with initial imperfection. The Galerkin method is used to get the nonlinear discretized equation of governing differential equation considering geometric nonlinearity of arches and the perturbation method is also used to transform the nonlinear equation to incremental form.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.533-542
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• 2002

This paper considers the buckling and post-buckling behavior of empty metal storage tanks under wind load. The structures of such tanks may be idealized as cantilever cylindrical shells, and the structural response is investigated using a computational model. The modeling employs a doubly curved finite element based on a theory by Simo and coworkers, which is capable of handling large displacements and plasticity. Buckling results for tanks with four different geometric relations are presented to consider the influence of the ratios between the radius and the height of the shell (R/L), and between the radius and the thickness (R/t). The studies aim to clarify the differences in the shells regarding their imperfection-sensitivity. The results show that thin-walled short tanks, with R/L = 3, display high imperfection sensitivity, while tanks with R/L = 0.5 are almost insensitive to imperfections. Changes in the total potential energy of tanks that would buckle under the same high wind pressures are also considered.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.705-720
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• 2024

Analyzing the collapse behavior of thin-walled steel structures holds significant importance in ensuring their safety and longevity. Geometric imperfections present on the surface of metal materials can diminish both the durability and mechanical integrity of steel shells. These imperfections, encompassing local geometric irregularities and deformations such as holes, cavities, notches, and cracks localized in specific regions of the shell surface, play a pivotal role in the assessment. They can induce stress concentration within the structure, thereby influencing its susceptibility to buckling. The intricate relationship between the buckling behavior of these structures and such imperfections is multifaceted, contingent upon a variety of factors. The buckling analysis of thin-walled steel shell structures, similar to other steel structures, commonly involves the determination of crucial material properties, including elastic modulus, shear modulus, tensile strength, and fracture toughness. An established method involves the emulation of distributed geometric imperfections, utilizing real test specimen data as a basis. This approach allows for the accurate representation and assessment of the diversity and distribution of imperfections encountered in real-world scenarios. Utilizing defect data obtained from actual test samples enhances the model's realism and applicability. The sizes and configurations of these defects are employed as inputs in the modeling process, aiding in the prediction of structural behavior. It's worth noting that there is a dearth of experimental studies addressing the influence of geometric defects on the buckling behavior of cylindrical steel shells. In this particular study, samples featuring geometric imperfections were subjected to experimental buckling tests. These same samples were also modeled using Finite Element Analysis (FEM), with results corroborating the experimental findings. Furthermore, the initial geometrical imperfections were measured using digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. In this way, the response of the test specimens can be estimated accurately by applying the initial imperfections to FE models. After validation of the test results with FEA, a numerical parametric study was conducted to develop more generalized design recommendations for the stainless-steel shell structures with the initial geometric imperfection. While the load-carrying capacity of samples with perfect surfaces was up to 140 kN, the load-carrying capacity of samples with 4 mm defects was around 130 kN. Likewise, while the load carrying capacity of samples with 10 mm defects was around 125 kN, the load carrying capacity of samples with 14 mm defects was measured around 120 kN.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2007

This paper presents results of a non-linear finite element analysis of axially loaded slender hollow structural section (HSS) columns, strengthened using high modulus carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) longitudinal sheets. The model was developed and verified against both experimental and other analytical models. Both geometric and material nonlinearities, which are attributed to the column's initial imperfection and plasticity of steel, respectively, are accounted for. Residual stresses have also been modeled. The axial strength in the experimental study was found to be highly dependent on the column's imperfection. Consequently, no specific correlation was established experimentally between strength gain and amount of CFRP. The model predicted the ultimate loads and failure modes quite reasonably and was used to isolate the effects of CFRP strengthening from the columns' imperfections. It was then used in a parametric study to examine columns of different slenderness ratios, imperfections, number of CFRP layers, and level of residual stresses. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of high modulus CFRP in increasing stiffness and strength of slender columns. While the columns' imperfections affect their actual strengths before and after strengthening,the percentage gain in strength is highly dependent on slenderness ratio and CFRP reinforcement ratio, rather than the value of imperfection.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2006.05b
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• pp.446-446
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• 2006

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.555-566
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• 2018

A 1/3 composite cylindrical shell with a central rectangular opening was axially compressed experimentally, and its critical buckling load and displacement, and strains were measured. A finite element model (FEM) of the shell with Hashin failure criteria was established to analyze its buckling and post-buckling behaviors by nonlinear Newton-Raphson method. The geometric imperfection sensitivity and the effect of side supported conditions of the shell were investigated. It was found that the Newton-Raphson method can be used to analyze the buckling and post-buckling behaviors of the shell. The shell is not sensitive to initial geometric imperfection. And the support design of the shell by side stiffeners is a good way to obtain the critical buckling load and simplify the experimental fixture.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.15-25
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• 1993

In order to promote the efficient use of composite materials, effort is currently being directed at the development of design criteria for composite structures. Insofar as design against buckling is concerned, it is well known that, for metal shells, a key step is the definition of 'knockdown' factors on the elastic critical buckling stress accounting mainly for the influence of initial geometric imperfections. At present, the imperfection sensitivity of composite shells has not been explored in detail. Due to the large number of parameters influencing buckling response (considerably larger than for isotropic shells), a very large number of tests would be needed to quantify imperfection sensitivity experimentally. An alternative approach is to use validated numerical models for this task. Thus, the objective of this paper is to outline the underlying theory used in developing a composite shell element and to present results from a validation exercise and subsequently from a parametric study on axially loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) curved panels using finite element modelling. Both eigenvalue and incremental analyses are performed, the latter including the effect of initial geometric imperfection shape and amplitude, and the results are used to estimate 'knockdown' factors for such panels.

• Bulletin of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 1983

This paper describes the application of the finite element method to the large deflection elastic plastic analysis and ultimate load calculation of axisymmetric shell of revolution with initial imperfection subjected to external pressure. The nonlinear equilibrium equations are linearized by the successive incremental method and are solved by the combination of load increment and iteration scheme with considering plastic deformation theory. To get the more realistic effect of large deflection, corrected coordinats and directions of applied load ar every load increment steps are used. The effects of the plasticity, initial imperfection and the shape of shells on the ultimate load of clamped circular cap under external pressure are investigated. Consequently, the following conclusions are obtained; (1) At same geometric parameter $\lambda$, each shape of clamped circular caps yield same elastic ultimate loads in both cases, i.e. with and without initial imperfections, whereas, in the case of elastic-plastic state the shell becomes thicker, the ultimate loads are getting smaller. (2) The effects of initial imperfection to ultimate load are most significant in the elastic case and are more senstive in the elastic-plastic state with the thinner shells.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.5
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• pp.419-429
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• 2023

This study conducts numerical analyses of a thin-walled composite cylinder under axial compression and internal pressure of 10 kPa. Numerical vibration correlation technique and nonlinear postbuckling analyses are conducted using the nonlinear finite element analysis program, ABAQUS. The single perturbation load approach and measured imperfection data are used to represent the geometric initial imperfection of thin-walled composite cylinder. The buckling knockdown factors are derived using present initial imperfection and analysis methods under axial compression without and with the internal pressure. Furthermore, the buckling knockdown factors are compared with the buckling test and computation time are calculated. In this study, derived buckling knockdown factors in present study have difference within 10% as compared with the buckling test. It is shown that nonlinear postbuckling analysis can derive relatively accurate buckling knockdown factor of present thin-walled cylinders, however, numerical vibration correlation technique derives reasonable buckling knockdown factors compared with buckling test. Therefore, this study shows that numerical vibration correlation technique can also be considered as an effective numerical method with 21~91% reduced computation time than nonlinear postbuckling analysis for the derivation of buckling knockdown factors of present composite cylinders.