Ultimate strength of aluminium-steel composite cylinders under hydrostatic pressure

This study examined the ultimate strength of double-layered aluminium-steel composite cylinders and single-layered aluminium cylinders under hydrostatic pressure. Six composite and six aluminium cylinders were fabricated using a rubber-bulging process, measured for thickness and geometry, and tested under external pressure. Experimental and numerical analyses were conducted to evaluate the ultimate strength of these cylinders. Additionally, the effects of initial gaps and geometric imperfections on the ultimate strength of composite cylinders were studied. The results indicated that composite cylinders were gap-sensitive and imperfection-sensitive structures. The average ultimate strength of a double-layered composite cylinder was far greater than the sum of the ultimate strengths of two sub-layers.