Buckling characteristics of carbon fiber composite/aluminium alloy combined cylindrical shells under external hydrostatic pressure

Abstract

The buckling behaviour of combined shells fabricated from aluminium alloy and carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites subjected to external hydrostatic pressure were investigated. Three sets of combined cylindrical shells with different combinations and one set of bare aluminium alloy cylindrical shells were designed and fabricated. The wall thickness of each cylindrical shell was measured. All the cylindrical shells were tested under external hydrostatic pressure, and the buckling load and final collapsed mode were recorded. Numerical models with real imperfections were established, linear and nonlinear analyses were performed to evaluate the buckling loads of cylindrical shells. The experimental and numerical results agreed favourably. On this basis, the effects of the thickness-diameter ratio, combination method and geometric imperfection on the buckling of combined cylinders were studied. This research can provide a reference for the design of combined shells made from CFRP and metal shell.