Energy barrier method for estimation of design buckling load of axially compressed elasto-plastic cylindrical shells.

Energy barrier as a measure of metastability of axially compressed cylindrical shell is developed in the case of elasto-plastic material of the structure. The concept of local shell buckling is used for estimation of design buckling load. It does not require measuring initial geometrical shell imperfections which is challenging or sometimes impossible in the case of large scale real structures. Parametric analysis of the structure is performed and corresponding formula is derived for design buckling load which splits up the zone of high sensitivity of the shell to imperfections. The obtained formula is compared with published experimental results and Eurocode EN 1993-1-6 (2007) recommendations. • The concept of local buckling and energy method is applied to elasto-plastic axially compressed cylindrical shells. • Parametric analysis is performed using numerical simulation. • Formula for knockdown factor is suggested for design buckling load estimation. • Obtained result is validated by comparison with experimental data and Eurocode approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]