A NEW APPROACH TO LINEAR BUCKLING OF THIN CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS

Adopting an end-problem approach to static displacement equations of thin circular cylindrical shells, a type of coupled eigenvalue problem is developed which integrates problem of bending as well as that of linear buckling. This is shown to provide an alternative mathematical criterion of linear bifurcation buckling. In addition, it provides new insight into the nature of Saint Venant effects. Numerical illustrations for an isotropic shell are worked out to demonstrate the structure of the proposed eigenvalue problem.