Effect of plasticity in the concept of local buckling of axially compressed cylindrical shells.

According to the concept of local buckling of compressed isotropic cylindrical shells, the buckling process begins with appearance of one or several dimple-like buckles. Then, depending on the load level, it leads to local or general shell buckling. The latter causes the loss of structure bearing capacity and catastrophic consequences. Therefore the stability of axially compressed cylindrical shells under different additional local perturbations was investigated intensively by many authors. Based on the performed studies, new formulae were suggested for design buckling load which improved the more conservative NASA SP-8007 (1968) recommendations. The present research is focused on analysis of post-buckling behaviour of the shell with one local dimple-like buckle. The conditions of existence and stability of such post-buckling equilibrium state were investigated. Special attention was paid to the influence of the shell material plasticity and geometrical parameter of the structure on its post-buckling behaviour. Based on this analysis the calculation methodology of design buckling load of the structure is suggested for the case of the shell with plastic material. • Effect of plasticity on stability of compressed cylindrical shells is studied in the scope of concept of local shell buckling. • Post-buckling behaviour of the shell with local buckle is investigated taking into account plasticity of the shell material. • Results obtained by numerical method are validated by comparison with experimental data. • The calculation methodology of design buckling load of plastic shell is suggested in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]