Advances in Buckling Analysis of Axial Compression Loaded Thin-walled Cylindrical Shells Based on Initial Imperfection Sensitivity

Buckling is one of the most important failure modes for thin-walled cylindrical shell structures under axial compression loads. Based on the fact that the load carrying capacity of thin-walled cylindrical shell structures under axial compression loads are very sensitive to initial imperfections, the theoretical, experimental and numerical research works done by domestic and foreign researchers for more than half a century in considering the influence of initial imperfections on the critical buckling load of axial loaded cylindrical shells are systematically reviewed. Researches have shown that two kinds of equivalent methods to consider the effects of initial imperfections have been established, namely, the deterministic approach based on numerical analysis and the non-deterministic approach under statistical probabilistic theory. Specifically, the former mainly focuses on the initial geometric imperfections, while the latter also includes non-traditional initial imperfections, such as material, thickness and loading imperfections, etc. These two methods have their own characteristics and advantages in predicting the axial load carrying capability of cylindrical shells and conducting buckling design. Compared with the test results, the highest prediction accuracy of the multiple perturbation load approach and single boundary perturbation approach can reach more than 90% and also has a certain safety margin simultaneously. Finally, some research direction and relevant urgent works in the future about the buckling problems of thin-walled cylindrical shell structures considering initial imperfection sensitivity are pointed out, which can provide some guides for related researches. © 2021 Journal of Mechanical Engineering.