Buckling of Multiple Intersecting Spherical Shells Under Uniform External Pressure

Abstract

This study explored the buckling of multiple intersecting spherical shells. A three-segment spherical shell was designed using the theory of deformation coordination; the design was compared with that of a volume-equivalent cylindrical shell and ring-ribbed cylindrical shell. The numerical results indicated that the buckling capacity of the three-segment spherical shell was superior to those of the other two cylindrical shells. To validate our numerical approach, three laboratory-scale shell models were fabricated. Each model was accurately measured and slowly tested in a pressure chamber; thus, the tested shells were studied numerically. The experimental collapse modes agreed well with numerical results, and the collapse load of the three-segment pressure shell was considerably higher than that of the two cylindrical shells.

Keywords

Multi-segment spherical shell / Cylindrical shell / External pressure / Buckling