Buckling Analysis of Cylindrical Shells Subjected to Liquid Pressures

(Effects of Geometric Nonlinearity)

Abstract

The finite element method is applied to buckling analysis of cylindrical shells subjected to axisymmetric external and internal liquid pressures. The axisymmetric shell element is used and buckling displacements are represented by Fourier series expansion in the circumferential angle. The linear and nonlinear buckling analyses are performed for cylindrical shells and model tanks. The results of linear and nonlinear buckling analyses are compared and the effects of geometric nonlinearity are investigated.