Abstract
The finite element method is applied to buckling analysis of cylindrical shells partially subjected to external and internal liquid pressures. The axisymmetric shell element is used with displacement field within each element is represented by Fourier circumferential components. The shells are assumed to stand vertically with the lower end clamped and the upper end clamped, simply supported or free. The analyses are performed for a wide range of the geometric parameter Z and the buckling liquid heights are obtained. The effects of the internal liquid height and the difference of mass density between external and internal liquids on the buckling liquid height are investigated. Based on the results of the finite element analyses, the simplified equations to calculate buckling liquid height with the effect of internal liquid are established.
