Buckling analysis of moderately thick carbon fiber composite cylindrical shells under hydrostatic pressure

Cylindrical shell structures are widely used in various engineering fields. In this study, the hydrostatic buckling behavior of moderately thick composite cylindrical shells is studied. A theoretical model based on the first-order shear deformation theory is established and its validity was verified by comparison with experimental data. Furthermore, the failure mechanism of moderately thick cylindrical shell is analyzed by experiments and simulations. It is analytically confirmed that the failure mode of moderately thick cylindrical shells changes as the length-to-radius ratio and the radius-to-thickness ratio decreases. Subsequently, the effects of size, stacking sequence, and ply angle on buckling behavior are discussed and parameter optimization is implemented analytically for engineering design. The results indicate that the critical hydrostatic buckling strength increases by more than 18.55 % by parameter optimization. The research results provide a useful reference for the design and optimization of underwater pressure-resistant shells.