Abstract

This work presents a semi-analytical approach to calculate rapidly but accurately the buckling onset of metallic and composite circular cylindrical shells with various boundary conditions under in-plane and/or pressure loads by the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Results are compared with analytical solutions and detailed finite element models reported in the literature. The proposed approach allows a quick buckling analysis of circular cylindrical shells, which makes it an ideal candidate to be used as part of an optimization scheme and/or to reduce potentially the number of detailed finite element models employed in the early design phases.