Timoshenko-type theory in the stability analysis of corrugated cylindrical shells

A technique is proposed for stability analysis of longitudinally corrugated shells under axial compression. The technique employs the equations of the Timoshenko-type nonlinear theory of shells. The geometrical parameters of shells are specified on discrete set of points and are approximated by segments of Fourier series. Infinite systems of homogeneous algebraic equations are derived from a variational equation written in displacements to determine the critical loads and buckling modes. Specific types of corrugated isotropic metal and fiberglass shells are considered. The calculated results are compared with those obtained within the framework of the classical theory of shells. It is shown that the Timoshenko-type theory extends significantly the possibility of exact allowance for the geometrical parameters and material properties of corrugated shells compared with Kirchhoff-Love theory.