Abstract
Thin cylindrical shells subjected to high bending loads normally buckle by forming a number of diamond- shaped panels on part of their compressed surfaces. The values of the buckling loads show considerable scatter but are in general substantially less than those predicted by simple linear theory.
This paper describes an attempt made a few years ago to improve the buckling strength and to reduce the scatter in the buckling loads of such shells by means of internal pressure. It was expected and confirmed that internal pressure would increase the buckling loads, but little improvement was obtained in the amount of scatter. Considerable modifications of the buckling deformations were observed; at sufficiently high pressures the diamond pattern disappeared entirely and was replaced by a single ridge of deformation extending circumferentially around the compressed side of the shell.
An account is given of the experimental investigation together with some excerpts from the theoretical work. Most of the shells were formed from thin steel sheets bent into the shape of a cylinder then soldered down a generator. They were filled with water, plugged at their ends and put under pressure by means of a hand-pump. Observations made during bending included load, pressure, strain, deflections and mode of buckling. These are discussed and compared with the results of other investigations.
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