Postbuckling analysis of circular cylindrical shells under external pressure

Abstract

The postbuckling behavior of circular cylindrical shells of finite length under uniform external pressure is analysed using the spline finite strip method. A Total Lagrangian formulation on the displacement dependent pressure load in the orthogonal curvilinear reference frame is derived. An improvement for the arc-length iteration method is presented. The postbuckling equilibrium path and the contour map of equal radial deflection computed are in good agreement with the experimental and analytical results reported in Esslinger, M. and Geier, B., Postbuckling Behaviour of Structures, Springer-Verlag, Wien, New York, 1975.