Experimental Behaviour of Thin-Walled Cylindrical Shells Subjected to External Pressure

Abstract

The paper describes external radial and hydrostatic pressure tests on 12 mild steel, thin-walled cylindrical shells. Radial deflections and surface strains on the inside and outside of the cylinders' walls are related to the conventional small deformation theory. The elastic deformation patterns are found to be similar in shape to the lobar modes which can be predicted by elastic instability theory. The collapse pressures of the shells and their modes of failure are considered in relation to the rigid-plastic theory, the importance of initial imperfections is discussed and an attempt is made to relate the geometric and material properties of the cylinders to modes of failure and to appropriate collapse analyses.