Buckling of Shells: Theory and Experiments

This lecture covers the theory and experiments related to the buckling of shells, focusing on topics such as Reissner's solution, pressure buckling, geometry-induced rigidity, and the localization of deformation in shells. It discusses the influence of material properties, geometry, and internal pressure on the behavior of elastic shells, as well as the critical buckling pressure and the fabrication of shells with geometric imperfections. The presentation also includes discussions on the tunability of aerodynamic drag reduction and the shaping of elastic gridshells through buckling, emphasizing the importance of precision model experiments in understanding mechanical instabilities.