Elastic Stability of Lap‐Jointed Cylinders

Abstract

Light gauge circular silos and tanks are often built from rolled steel plate with lap joints running around the circumference. In this paper, a parametric study is undertaken to explore the problem of the buckling of lap‐jointed cylindrical shells under axial compression and internal pressure using a nonlinear stability analysis for shells of revolution. The results are compared with the predictions of earlier limited analytical studies, and with existing experimental results. Bolted and welded lap joints of different lengths and thicknesses are studied comprehensively. Lap joints are shown to be a source of special concern only if fabrication errors lead to a significant imperfection adjacent to the lap joint. The increase in the buckling strength caused by internal pressure is found to be less than that predicted by the ECCS code for shell buckling.