Shells: Buckling Loads of Laminated Cylinders

Structural elements in the form of cylindrical shells are often designed to be thin to save weight, and this can lead to buckling. The patterns and values of buckling loads depend greatly on the type of loading, the end support conditions, and effective laminate material properties and couplings. For many typical buckling loadings, there is a variety of similar buckling states, which causes sensitivity to initial imperfections. Understanding this phenomenon requires the consideration of nonlinear strain-displacement relations, usually in the von Kármán form. In addition, shells of composite materials require deformation assumptions that permit transverse shear deformation. A review of the results obtained using theoretical techniques is given as well as finite element predictions and experimental observations. A very brief summary of references is given for the optimization of shell buckling loads and for the additional effects of stringer reinforcement, thermal loadings, and other topics.