Buckling and first ply failure of composite toroidal pressure hull

Abstract: The paper addresses the static stability of externally pressurised toroidal shells with closed circular and non-circular cross-sections. Results of a numerical study into bifurcation buckling and first ply failure of CFRP filament wound toroids are presented. The influence of boundary conditions, variable wall thickness, laminations stacking and initial geometric imperfections on the load carrying capacity is provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]