Shell Buckling: Theory and Applications

This lecture explores the phenomenon of shell buckling, focusing on the elastic buckling behavior of various shell structures such as spherical shells and circular plates. The instructor discusses the imperfection-sensitive nature of shell buckling, the influence of geometric imperfections on buckling pressure, and the efforts to revise the knockdown factor in the design of shell structures. The lecture also covers the stability of axisymmetric buckling, the behavior of complete spherical shells under prescribed pressure and volume change, and the numerical methods used to solve buckling problems. Additionally, real-world examples of shell buckling, such as the collapse of steel water towers and the buckling of fuel tanks, are presented.