Numerical models for nonlinear analysis of elastic shells with eigenmode-affine imperfections (Q5933968)

The authors show that simple nonlinear finite element analysis of an imperfect shell may not predict the correct buckling load, due to the tendency of the shell to develop mode changes in the deformation process before reaching the limit point. This non-adequacy exists not only in short sector models such as half-wave and whole wave model, but also in more complete models such as half-structure and whole structure models. Four different kinds of models are investigated in detail for the recommendation for determining shell buckling strengths.