Buckling response of externally pressurised sealed and retrofitted steel cylindrical shells

Abstract

Buckling response of steel cylindrical shells with no reinforcement or seal, cylindrical shells reinforced with CFRP, and cylindrical shells sealed against leakage was experimentally compared. Twelve cylindrical shells were tested; four had no reinforcement/seal, four were reinforced with CFRP, and four were sealed. The cylindrical shells had the same radius-to-thickness ratio of 445 but had various height-to-radius ratios of 2, 4, and 6. Results indicated that the buckling capacity of the shells decreased with increasing the shell height. Whilst a post-buckling response was established for the sealed shells, CFRP-reinforced shells had no post-buckling response. CFRP reinforcement significantly increased the shells' initial and overall buckling load, but the sealing was only effective in the initial buckling load.