Nonlinear dynamic buckling of functionally graded cylindrical shells subjected to time-dependent axial load

This paper is presented to solve the nonlinear dynamic buckling problem of a new type of composite cylindrical shells, made of ceram/metal functionally graded materials. The material properties vary smoothly through the shell thickness according to a power law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituent materials. The dynamic axial load is set in a linear increase form with regard to time. By taking the temperature-dependent material properties into account, the effect of environmental temperature rise is included. The nonlinear dynamic equilibrium equation of the shell was obtained by applying an energy method, and was then solved using the four-order Runge–Kutta method. The critical condition was eventually determined using B-R dynamic buckling criterion. Numerical results show the dynamic buckling load is higher than its static counterpart. Meanwhile, various effects of the inhomogeneous parameter, loading speed, dimension parameter, environmental temperature rise and initial geometrical imperfection on nonlinear dynamic buckling are discussed.     

An energy conservative symplectic methodology for buckling of cylindrical shells under axial compression

This study concerns a theoretical analysis on the buckling of cylindrical shells under axial compression in a new energy conservative symplectic system. By introducing four pairs of dual variables and employing the Legendre transformation, the governing equations that are expressed in stress function and radial displacement are re-arranged into Hamiltonian’s canonical equations. The critical loads and buckling modes are reduced to solving for symplectic eigenvalues and eigensolutions, respectively. The obtained results conclude that buckling solutions are mainly grouped into two types according to their nature of different buckling modes: non-uniform buckling with deflection localized at the vicinity of the ends and uniform buckling with deformation waves distributed uniformly along the axial direction, and the complete solving space only consists of the basic eigensolutions. The influence of geometric parameters and boundary conditions on the critical loads and buckling modes is discussed in detail, and some insights into this problem are analyzed.     

Localized plastic buckling deformation in axially compressed cylindrical shells

Summary A linear partial differential equation is derived to describe growth of an axisymmetric perturbation in the plastic buckling of axially compressed cylindrical shells. Simple J ₂ flow theory is used along with rigid-plastic material behavior. An asymptotic solution is then constructed for large values of a parameter which characterizes localization of an initial imperfection. The perturbation remains localized. The solution is compared with experimental results.     

Experimental investigations on buckling of cylindrical shells under axial compression and transverse shear

This paper presents experimental studies on buckling of cylindrical shell models under axial and transverse shear loads. Tests are carried out using an experimental facility specially designed, fabricated and installed, with provision forin-situ measurement of the initial geometric imperfections. The shell models are made by rolling and seam welding process and hence are expected to have imperfections more or less of a kind similar to that of real shell structures. The present work thus differs from most of the earlier investigations. The measured maximum imperfections δ_max are of the order of ±3t (t = thickness). The buckling loads obtained experimentally are compared with the numerical buckling values obtained through finite element method (FEM). In the case of axial buckling, the imperfect geometry is obtained in four ways and in the case of transverse shear buckling, the FE modelling of imperfect geometry is done in two ways. The initial geometric imperfections affect the load carrying capacity. The load reduction is considerable in the case of axial compression and is marginal in the case of transverse shear buckling. Comparisons between experimental buckling loads under axial compression, reveal that the extent of imperfection, rather than its maximum value, in a specimen influences the failure load. Buckling tests under transverse shear are conducted with and without axial constraints. While differences in experimental loads are seen to exist between the two conditions, the numerical values are almost equal. The buckling modes are different, and the experimentally observed and numerically predicted values are in complete disagreement.     

Vibrations and buckling of composite orthotropic cylindrical shells with nonuniform axial loads

The vibrational response of orthotropic composite cylindrical shells, subjected to circumferentially nonuniform axial loads, is investigated based on Flügge-type field equations. The use of a complex finite Fourier transform provides a simple method for handling any arbitrary nonuniform load but introduces modal coupling between the transformed equations. For simply supported boundaries (conditions SS3) the determination of the critical buckling load reduces to finding the eigenvalues of a finite matrix. Two different nonuniform loads are considered, having forms proportional to (1+2cos θ) and (θ*−θ), where is the Heaviside function, θ is the circumferential coordinate and aθ* is the width of an axial strip of the shell of radius a. Computed results indicate the sensitivity of the critical buckling loads and free vibrational frequency to the type of nonuniform load and the material lay-ups of the cylinders.     

Efficient modelling of delamination buckling in composite cylindrical shells under axial compression

Composite cylindrical shells and panels are widely used in aerospace structures. These are often subjected to defects and damage from both in-service and manufacturing events. Delamination is the most important of these defects. This paper deals with the computational modelling of delamination in isotropic and laminated composite cylindrical shells. The use of three-dimensional finite elements for predicting the delamination buckling of these structures is computationally expensive. Here combined double-layer and single-layer of shell elements are employed to study the effect of delamination on the global load-carrying capacity of such systems under axial compressive load. It is shown that through-the-thickness delamination can be modelled and analysed effectively without requiring a great deal of computing time and memory. A parametric study is carried out to study the influence of the delamination size, orientation and through-the-width position of a series of laminated cylinders. The effect of material properties is also investigated. Some of the results are compared with the corresponding analytical results. It is shown that ignoring the contact between the delaminated layers can result in wrong estimations of the critical buckling loads in cylindrical shells under compressive load.     

An investigation of the buckling behavior of composite elliptical cylindrical shells with piezoelectric layers under axial compression

The paper is focused on the elastic buckling behavior of piezocomposite elliptical cylindrical shell finite element formulation. The formulation is based on the shear deformation theory, and the serendipity quadrilateral eight-node element is used to study the elastic behavior of elliptical cylindrical shells. The strain-displacement relations are accurately accounted for in the formulation. The contributions of work done by the applied load are also incorporated. A constant gain displacement control algorithm coupling the direct and inverse piezoelectric effect is applied to provide active control of composite non-circular shells in a self-monitoring and self-controlling system. The governing equations obtained using the principle of minimum potential energy are solved through an eigenvalue approach. The influences of elliptical cross-sectional parameter and displacement feedback gain (G _d ) values on the critical buckling loads of elliptical cylindrical shells are examined.     

On the influence of laminate stacking on buckling of composite cylindrical shells subjected to axial compression

The buckling loads of laminated cylinders can strongly depend on the position of the differently oriented layers within the shell. This paper deals with two different laminated orthotropic cylinders with opposite stacking sequence of the laminate layers. Cylinders of this construction had been thoroughly tested within a BRITE EURAM project. Analytical and semi-analytical methods have been used to predict the buckling loads, and the results are reported in this paper as well as test results for comparison. An explanation of the striking influence of stacking sequence is given. With some more examples the findings are verified. It is suggested that the presented results can be used for benchmarking purpose.     

Axisymmetric response of nonlinearly elastic cylindrical shells to dynamic axial loads

The axisymmetric response of nonlinearly elastic cylindrical shells subjected to dynamic axial loads is analysed by using an incremental formulation. The material elastic nonlinearity is modeled by the generalized Ramberg—Osgood representation. The time-dependent displacements of the shell are assumed to be governed by nonlinear equations of motion based on the von Karman—Donnell kinematic relations; moreover, both in-surface and out-of-surface inertia terms are included. The finite difference method with respect to the spatial coordinate and the Runge—Kutta method with respect to time are employed to derive a solution. Numerical results demonstrate the effect of the material nonlinearity on the deflections, stiffness matrices and dynamic buckling behavior of cylindrical shells.     

Nonlinear dynamic buckling of orthotropic cylindrical shells subjected to rapidly applied loads

Dynamic buckling of an orthotropic cylindrical shell which is subjected to rapidly applied compression is considered. A nonlinear differential equation of Donnell–Karman type is derived with the initial imperfection taken into account. An energy method is used to obtain the equation of motion which is then solved numerically by means of a Runge-Kutta method. These numerical results show that the critical load is increased over the corresponding static case. An analytical solution is also obtained for the problem of hydrostatic pressure.     

An experimental investigation into the buckling and post-buckling of CFRP shells under combined axial and torsion loading

The results of an experimental study of the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of four unstiffened thin-walled CFRP cylindrical shells are presented. The test equipment allows axial and torsion loading, applied separately and in combination, using a position control mode, and includes a laser scanning system for the measurement in situ of the geometric imperfection as well as of the progressive change in deformations. The results identify the effect of laminate orientation, show that the buckling loads are essentially independent of load sequence and demonstrate that the shells are able to sustain load in the post-buckling field without any damage. The measured data are fundamental for the development and validation of analytical and numerical models and contribute to the definition of applicable strength design criteria of composite cylindrical shells in the post-buckling field, with the final aim of a larger structure weight saving.     

Scaling of cylindrical shells under axial impact

A technique of correcting scaled strain rate sensitive structures subject to dynamic loads is described and applied to a shell under axial impact. The prototype and models responses were simulated using finite element method. Final deformed shape, collapse mode, displacement at the top of the shell and maximum force of scaled models are compared to the respective prototype. It is shown that the models response are quite different from the prototype if no correction is performed. By correcting the initial impact velocity, the models scale quite well and it is even possible to obtain the transition phenomenon between global and progressive buckling of shells subject to the axial impact of a mass.     

An analytical approach for buckling analysis of generally laminated conical shells under axial compression

In the present investigation, the buckling of generally laminated conical shells with various boundary conditions subjected to axial pressure is studied using an analytical approach. The governing equations are obtained using classical shell theory with Donnell assumptions in strain–deformation relations and the principle of minimum potential energy. The differential equations are solved using trigonometric functions in circumferential and power series in longitudinal directions. All types of boundary conditions can be applied in this method. The results are compared and validated with the results available in the literature, and good agreement is observed. Finally, the effects of the length, semi-vertex angle, and lamination sequences on the buckling load and mode shapes of generally laminated conical shells are presented.     

Analytical study on the buckling of cylindrical shells with stepwise variable thickness subjected to uniform external pressure

This article focuses on the buckling of cylindrical shells with stepwise variable thickness subjected to uniform external pressure. First, combining the method of separation of variables, perturbation method, and Fourier series expansion, an analytical method for the buckling analysis of cylindrical shells with axisymmetric thickness variation subjected to external pressure is established. The method is verified by comparing with the previous results. Then, the stepwise variable thickness of cylindrical shells is described exactly by the arc tangent function. Finally, using the presented method, a general formula for the critical buckling load of cylindrical shells with stepwise variable thickness subjected to uniform external pressure is derived. This general formula is compared and discussed with some empirical formulae in the current design standards. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the calculation of the buckling load of cylindrical shells with stepwise variable thickness subjected to uniform external pressure. Moreover, it provides a reference and guidance for the further revision of related standards.     

Study on postbuckling of axial compressed elastoplastic functionally graded cylindrical shells

Postbuckling of plates and shells is an important and cumbersome problem in the structural stability field. Presently, postbuckling behaviors of elastoplastic functionally graded cylindrical shells are investigated by a numerical simulation. The elastoplastic material properties are assumed to be of a multilinear hardening type, according to the constituent distributions, and are modeled using the laminate method. The Riks algorithm is used to obtain the equilibrium path. The postbuckling deformation and stain history of elastoplastic functionally graded cylindrical shells are investigated and various effects of the shell thickness and the constituent distributions are discussed. The results show material unloading effects in the postbuckling state.