Optimal design of shells against buckling subjected to combined loadings

In this paper, the problem of optimal design of shells against instability is considered. A thin-walled shell is loaded, in general, by overall bending moment, constant or varying along an axis of a shell, by the appropriate shearing force and by an axial force and a constant torsional moment. We look for the shape of middle surface as well as the thickness of a shell, which ensures the maximum critical value of the loading parameter. The volume of material and the capacity of a shell are considered as equality constraints. The concept of a shell of uniform stability is applied.