IMPERFECTION SENSITIVITY OF STIFFENED CYLINDERS SUBJECTED TO EXTERNAL-PRESSURE

The effect of initial imperfections on the elastic-buckling behaviour of ring-stiffened cylinders under external pressure is examined using the potential energy approach. Experimental results in the open literature of four ring-stiffened cylinders tested under external pressure were used to compare and verify the theoretical analysis. Both the theoretical and experimental results indicate no apparent influence of initial imperfections on the buckling behaviour within the elastic range. This was so in spite of the presence of an appreciable amount of initial imperfections. The results from this work indicate that less stringent requirements in the manufacturing of ring-stiffened cylinders may be tolerated, leading to possible economy. © 1989.