Postbuckling analysis and imperfection sensitivity of general shells by the finite element method

Buckling and imperfection sensitivity are the primary considerations in analysis and design of thin shell structures. The objective here is to develop accurate and efficient capabilities to predict the postbuckling behavior of shells, including imperfection sensitivity. The approach used is based on the Lyapunov-Schmidt-Koiter (LSK) decomposition and asymptotic expansion in conjunction with the, finite element method, This LSK formulation for shells is derived and implemented in a finite element code, The method is applied to cylindrical and spherical shells. Cases of linear and nonlinear prebuckling behavior, coincident as well as non-coincident buckling modes, and modal interactions are studied. The results from the asymptotic analysis are compared to exact solutions obtained by numerically tracking the bifurcated equilibrium branches. The accuracy of the LSK asymptotic technique, its range of validity, and its limitations are illustrated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. AIL rights reserved.