Thermoelastoviscoplastic Buckling Behavior of Cylindrical Shells

Abstract

The thermoelastoviscoplastic buckling behavior of cylindrical shells under axial compression is investigated. The analysis is based on nonlinear kinematic relations and nonlinear rate-dependent unified constitutive equations. Bodner-Partom's model is employed to represent the thermoelastoviscoplastic material behavior. The material model does not separate the inelastic deformation into time-dependent (creep) and time-independent (plastic) deformations. It can cover elastic and inelastic material behavior, and temperature effects simultaneously. A finite-element approach which with a two-phase solution scheme for the unified constitutive equations is employed to predict the inelastic buckling behavior of the structure. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the change of critical load, deformation mode, and the load-carrying capability in the postbuckling stage. The effects of several parameters, which include temperature, small initial imperfections, and the thickness of the shell are assessed. The creep buckling is also studied as an example of the time-dependent deformation.