Buckling behaviors of thin-walled cylindrical shells under localized axial compression loads, Part 1: Experimental study

Abstract In the second part of this series paper, a high-fidelity finite element model was established first to systematically study the buckling behaviors of thin-walled cylindrical shell subjected to localized axial compression load. By comparing with the experimental results, the feasibility and accuracy of the present FE model were validated. Then, the buckling mechanism, failure mode and load carrying capacity of cylindrical shell under localized axial compression load were thoroughly discussed and elucidated. Finally, some key factors that affect the buckling behaviors of cylindrical shells were carefully investigated, including material yield strength, the amplitude and topography of initial geometric imperfections, and the location of localized axial compression load along shell circumference. Results indicated that the distribution scope of localized axial compression load, shell material yield strength and the amplitude of initial geometric imperfections play a dominant role in the buckling behaviors of cylindrical shell under localized axial compression loads. The experimental and numerical investigations carried out in this research work can be regarded as a systematic attempt to study the buckling problems of thin-walled cylindrical shell structures under the more complex and practical axial load conditions. The results and conclusions obtained from this paper can also provide some guides for the design and application of thin-walled cylindrical shell in actual engineering.