Stability Loss in Thick Transversely Isotropic Cylindrical Shells Under Axial Compression

Abstract

The stability of equilibrium of a transversely isotropic thick cylindrical shell under axial compression is investigated. The problem is treated by making appropriate use of the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. The results are compared with the critical loads furnished by classical shell theories. For the isotropic material cases considered, the elasticity approach predicts a lower critical load than the shell theories, the percentage reduction being larger with increasing thickness. However, both the Flügge and Danielson and Simmonds theories predict critical loads much closer to the elasticity value than the Donnell theory. Moreover, the values of n, m (number of circumferential waves and number of axial half-waves, respectively, at the critical point) for both the elasticity, and the Flügge and the Danielson and Simmonds theories, show perfect agreement, unlike the Donnell shell theory.