Twin-characteristic-parameter solution of axisymmetric dynamic plastic buckling for cylindrical shells under axial compression waves

In the present investigation on the dynamic plastic buckling of cylindrical shells under axial compression waves, the critical axial stress and the exponential parameter of inertia terms in stability equations are treated as a couple of characteristic parameters. The criterion of transformation and conservation of energy in the process of buckling initiation is used to derive the supplementary restraint equation of buckling deformation at the fronts of axial elastic and plastic compression waves. The supplementary restraint equation, stability equations, boundary conditions and continuity conditions constitute the necessary and sufficient conditions of determining the two characteristic parameters. Two characteristic equations are derived for the two characteristic parameters. The critical axial stress or the critical buckling time, the exponential parameter of inertia terms and the initial modes of buckling deformation are calculated quantitatively from the solution of the characteristic equations. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.