Buckling of Shell Structures, on Land, in the Sea and in the Air PDF

PREFACE

The theoretical formulation of the buckling load of thin slender structures o f simple geometrical shape has been known for many years. Nevertheless, for engineers, buckling is often an obscure phenomenon and it is not widely known that the theoretical expressions can badly represent reality. Certain types of buckling lead to an instability whose behavior at failure is not repeatable, a fact which in the past has often led to confusion. This situation is no longer true, but the domain has for too long remained the preserve o f specialist engineers.

The results of laboratory studies have now shown that it is possible to obtain repeatability of the critical load and that the latter is very dependent on the nature of the imperfections of the shell, on the loading conditions, on the boundary conditions, etc. Many approaches, depending on the different sectors of application, have been made to assess these effects.

The regulations for dimensioning the structure are very varied; they depend on the complexity of the method of calculation to be used and on the degree of control over the construction phase. The calculation o f the buckling load of a nuclear reactor vessel is not the same as that for a grain silo, an underwater shell, or for an aircraft fuselage. The analysis of the specialist calls upon the results of specific tests, on regulations, and upon his knowledge of the limitations of his calculations.

Th e science of the study of containers o f various materials has, in the majority of cases, a uniformity of shape, of function and of loading. The grouping of the papers in this publication will, it is hoped, lift the “ barriers” and give the “ state of the art” for each sector.

More than 50 articles are grouped by theme: experimental methods and physical modelling; development of theoretical models; numerical methods and their implementation; codes, regulations and methods o f dimensioning; comparison o f different procedures.

Finally, I would like to thank all those who have helped with the Colloquium: the Scientific Committee, the Organising Committee and all those who have contributed their knowledge to the benefit of all.

Author: J.F. Jullien