Non-linear buckling response of a conical shell panel

In this study the non-linear static, as well as dynamic, response of a conical shell panel, is simulated via a spring-mass. geometrically imperfect dissipative model with three degrees of freedom. The real structure experiences in the most common cases a limit point instability implying dynamic snap-through buckling, a feature which is successfully captured by the proposed model. Under a step loading of infinite duration the system buckles dynamically through a saddle (or its neighbourhood) of the unstable postbuckling physical equilibrium path, exhibiting in the presence of damping a point attractor response (bounded motion), on remote stable equilibrium positions. The criterion of zero total potential energy: yields very good (lower bound) dynamic buckling estimates with great importance for structural design purposes.