Coupled dynamic instability of thin-walled structural systems

The dynamics of thin-walled structural systems are presented for both the pre- and the post-buckling states. The influence of the coupling effect of axial compression and initial imperfection on the dynamical response of columns, plates and cylindrical shells is discussed. The theoretical procedure used to study the subject is presented, together with illustrative examples. The use of the results obtained for the prediction of buckling loads of cylindrical shells by means of nondestructive vibration tests is also presented. The implications of the results on the design of thin-walled systems is discussed. The work is done in the scope of the elastic stability, and damping is not included in the analysis.