Plastic Buckling of Conical Shells

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Błachut ◽  
O. Ifayefunmi
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compression ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Single Type ◽  
Simultaneous Action ◽  
External Hydrostatic Pressure ◽  
Conical Shells ◽  
Computer Numerically Controlled ◽  
Experimental Values ◽  
Yield Force

This paper studies the static stability of metal cones subjected to combined, simultaneous action of the external pressure and axial compression. Cones are relatively thick; hence, their buckling performance remains within the elastic-plastic range. The literature review shows that there are very few results within this range and none on combined stability. The current paper aims to fill this gap. Combined stability plot, sometimes called interactive stability plot, is obtained for mild steel models. Most attention is given to buckling caused by a single type of loading, i.e., by hydrostatic external pressure and by axial compression. Asymmetric bifurcation bucklings, collapse load in addition to the first yield pressure and first yield force, are computed using two independent proprietory codes in order to compare predictions given by them. Finally, selected cone configurations are used to verify numerical findings. To this end four cones were computer numerically controlled-machined from a solid steel billet of 252 mm in diameter. All cones had integral top and bottom flanges in order to mimic realistic boundary conditions. Computed predictions of buckling loads, caused by external hydrostatic pressure, were close to the experimental values. But similar comparisons for axially compressed cones are not so good. Possible reasons for this disparity are discussed in the paper.

Experimental Perspective on the Buckling of Pressure Vessel Components

2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Błachut
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Glass Fibers ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Pressure Vessels ◽  
Conical Shells ◽  
Thin Walled Structures ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Spherical Caps

This review aims to complement a milestone monograph by Singer et al. (2002, Buckling Experiments—Experimental Methods in Buckling of Thin-Walled Structures, Wiley, New York). Practical aspects of load bearing capacity are discussed under the general umbrella of “buckling.” Plastic loads and burst pressures are included in addition to bifurcation and snap-through/collapse. The review concentrates on single and combined static stability of conical shells, cylinders, and their bowed out counterpart (axial compression and/or external pressure). Closed toroidal shells and domed ends onto pressure vessels subjected to internal and/or external pressures are also discussed. Domed ends include: torispheres, toricones, spherical caps, hemispheres, and ellipsoids. Most experiments have been carried in metals (mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum); however, details about hybrids (copper-steel-copper) and shells manufactured from carbon/glass fibers are included in the review. The existing concerns about geometric imperfections, uneven wall thickness, and influence of boundary conditions feature in reviewed research. They are supplemented by topics like imperfections in axial length of cylinders, imperfect load application, or erosion of the wall thickness. The latter topic tends to be more and more relevant due to ageing of vessels. While most experimentation has taken place on laboratory models, a small number of tests on full-scale models are also referenced.

A Proposed Design Chart to Predict the Inelastic Buckling Pressures for Conical Shells Under Uniform External Pressure

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (02) ◽  
pp. 77-81
Author(s):  
Carl T. F. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Factor Of Safety ◽  
Random Distribution ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
External Hydrostatic Pressure ◽  
Circular Section ◽  
Inelastic Buckling ◽  
Conical Shells ◽  
Uniform External Pressure ◽  
Design Chart ◽  
Design Charts

The paper presents the theoretical and experimental results obtained when 15 machined circular section conical shells were tested to destruction under uniform external hydrostatic pressure. Three of the shells buckled elastically, but the other 12 buckled inelastically. Previous research has found that the inelastic buckling of such shells with small initial out-of-circularity has defied exact mathematical analysis, due to the fact that the initial out-of-circularity is very small and also of random distribution about the circumference. In this paper these results are used to provide a design chart that enables the inelastic buckling pressures of these vessels to be successfully determined. This design chart should prove to be more accurate, but less conservative, than existing design charts, so that the factor of ignorance is decreased and more reliability can be placed on the true factor of safety.

Buckling of Truncated Cones With Localized Imperfections

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Błachut
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compression ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Buckling Load ◽  
Buckling Loads ◽  
Conical Shells ◽  
Buckling Strength ◽  
Shape Deviations ◽  
Combined Action ◽  
Axisymmetric Shape

The paper shows that both the inward and outward bulge-type axisymmetric shape imperfections can significantly lower the buckling strength of steel conical shells. The FE results are provided for: (i) axial compression, (ii) external pressure, and (iii) combined action of both loads. Sensitivity of buckling loads to outward bulges has not been generally known or expected. It is shown that the sensitivity of buckling load depends not only on the shape, amplitude but also on the position of the imperfection along the slant. Geometry of recently tested cones was also used in order to assess the influence of measured shape deviations on the buckling strength. The amplitudes of imperfections in these machined models were small (up to 5 % of wall thickness). As a result their influence on the buckling strength was found to be negligible.

Buckling of Unstiffened Steel Cones Subjected to Axial Compression and External Pressure

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Blachut ◽  
O. Ifayefunmi
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compression ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Stability Domain ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
The Other ◽  
Combined Loading ◽  
Elastic Behavior ◽  
Geometrical Parameters

The paper considers buckling of unstiffened truncated conical shells under simultaneously acting quasi-static axial compression and an independent external hydrostatic pressure. This is both numerical and experimental study. Domains of combined stability were obtained using the finite element method for a range of geometrical parameters. Cones are clamped at one end and free to move axially at the other end, where all the other degrees of freedom remain constrained. Shells are assumed to be from mild steel and the material is modeled as elastic perfectly plastic. The FE results indicate that the static stability domains remain convex. The failure mechanisms, i.e., asymmetric bifurcation and axisymmetric collapse are discussed together with the spread of plastic strains through the wall thickness. Also, the combined stability domains are examined for regions of purely elastic behavior and for regions where plastic straining exists. The latter is not convex and repercussions of that are discussed. The spread of the latter is computed for a range of the (radius-to-wall-thickness)-ratios. Experimental results are based on laboratory scale models. Here, a single geometry was chosen for validation of numerically predicted static stability domain. Parameters of this geometry were assumed as follows: the ratio of bigger radius, r2, to smaller radius, r1, was taken as (r2/r1) = 2.02; the ratio of radius-to-wall-thickness, (r2/t), was 33.0, and the cone semi-angle was 26.56°, whilst the axial length-to-radius ratio was, (h/r2) = 1.01. Shells were CNC-machined from 252mm diameter solid steel billet. They had heavy integral flanges at both ends and models were not stress relieved prior to testing. Details about the test arrangements are provided in the paper. In particular, the development details and experience of the test rig for independent/combined loading of cones are given. The current contribution complements Ref. [1].

Buckling of Unstiffened Steel Cones Subjected to Axial Compression and External Pressure

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Błachut ◽  
O. Ifayefunmi
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compression ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Stability Domain ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
The Other ◽  
Elastic Behavior ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Perfectly Plastic

This is the first study into elastic-plastic buckling of unstiffened truncated conical shells under simultaneously acting axial compression and an independent external pressure. This is both a numerical and experimental study. Domains of combined stability are obtained using the finite element method for a range of geometrical parameters. Cones are clamped at one end and free to move axially at the other end, where all the other degrees of freedom remain constrained. Shells are assumed to be from mild steel and the material is modeled as elastic perfectly plastic. The FE results indicate that the static stability domains remain convex. The failure mechanisms, i.e., asymmetric bifurcation and axisymmetric collapse are discussed together with the spread of plastic strains through the wall thickness. Also, the combined stability domains are examined for regions of purely elastic behavior and for regions where plastic straining exists. The latter is not convex and repercussions of that are discussed. The spread of plastic strain is computed for a range of the (radius-to-wall-thickness) ratios. Experimental results are based on laboratory scale models. Here, a single geometry was chosen for validation of numerically predicted static stability domain. Parameters of this geometry were assumed as follows: the ratio of the bigger radius, r2, to the smaller radius, r1, was taken as (r2/r1) = 2.02; the ratio of radius-to-wall-thickness, (r2/t), was 33.0, and the cone semiangle was 26.56°, while the axial length-to-radius ratio was (h/r2) = 1.01. Shells were formed by computer numerically controlled machining from 252 mm diameter solid steel billet. They had heavy integral flanges at both ends and models were not stress relieved prior to testing. Details about the test arrangements are provided in the paper.

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