Semi-analytical model for the prediction of the post-buckling behaviour of unstiffened cylindrically curved steel panels under uniaxial compression

Abstract

Owing to its structural efficiency stiffened steel curved panels are increasingly used in structural applications in civil, naval and offshore engineering. However, design provisions to predict their strength are practically non-existent. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to present a robust semi-analytical procedure for the prediction of the post-buckling behaviour of unstiffened cylindrically curved steel panels under uniform uniaxial compression. Nonlinear stability models based on large deflection theory incorporating initial imperfections and geometric nonlinearity are implemented. The problem is solved through the Rayleigh-Ritz method and the post-buckling solutions are obtained in order to assess local buckling of isotropic panels. Two distinct simply supported boundary conditions are considered, depending on the in-plane restraints of edges. The validity of these computational models is assessed with the results of finite element analyses for different curvatures and aspect ratios, yielding good results. Finally, design-oriented closed-form analytical expressions are derived based on single degree of freedom approximations.