Buckling analysis of cylindrical shells with random geometric imperfections

In this paper the effect of random geometric imperfections on the limit loads of isotropic, thin-walled, cylindrical shells under deterministic axial compression is presented. Therefore, a concept for the numerical prediction of the large scatter in the limit load observed in experiments using direct Monte Carlo simulation technique in context with the Finite Element method is introduced. Geometric imperfections are modeled as a two dimensional, Gaussian stochastic process with prescribed second moment characteristics based on a data bank of measured imperfections. (The initial imperfection data bank at the Delft University of Technology, Part 1. Technical Report LR-290, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology). In order to generate realizations of geometric imperfections, the estimated covariance kernel is decomposed into an orthogonal series in terms of eigenfunctions with corresponding uncorrelated Gaussian random variables, known as the Karhunen-Loeve expansion. For the determination of the limit load a geometrically non-linear static analysis is carried out using the general purpose code STAGS (STructural Analysis of General Shells, user manual, LMSC P032594, version 3.0, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Co., Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA). As a result of the direct Monte Carlo simulation, second moment characteristics of the limit load are presented. The numerically predicted statistics of the limit load coincide reasonably well with the actual observations, particularly in view of the limited data available, which is reflected in the statistical estimators. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.