Buckling prediction of cylindrical shells by vibration considering stochastic modelling, combined loading and industrial-scale validation

Abstract

The Vibration-Correlation Technique (VCT) has established itself as a reliable method to predict the buckling loads of cylindrical shells under compression. However, the method was not considered mature enough to deploy in industrial experimental campaigns, owing to several aspects that needed further investigation. In this dissertation, some of these aspects are investigated, starting with the method's sensitivity to key measurement parameters. Then, the influence of various amplitudes of shape and loading imperfections on the robustness of the method is assessed. Afterwards, the influence of applying additional bending, shear, and/or torsion loads on the VCT estimation of the axial buckling load was investigated. Lastly, the experimental results of a cylindrical shell representative of a real-scale launcher structure, tested under two bending-compression load cases, are presented.