NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS

TECHNICAL NOTE 4237

GENERAL INSTABILITY OF STIFFENED CYLLNDERS By Herbert Becker New York University

Washington July 1958

NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS TECHNICAL NOTE

11.237

GENERAL INSTABILITY OF STIFFENED CYLINDERS

By Herbert Becker SUMMARY Theoretical buckling stresses are determined in explicit form for circular cylinders with circumferential and axial stiffening. The loadings are axial compression, radial pressure, hydrostatic pressure, and torsion. Analyses were confined to moderate-length and long cylinders. The investigation was based upon the use of a form of Donneflts equation derived by Taylor which is applicable to orthotropic cylinders. The derivation of this equation is presented in this report.

NACA TN

.237

cylinders, for which there is no boundary influence. Details of boundary conditions for the different loadings are discussed in the pertinent sections below. The investigation is restricted to elastic buckling. Linear theory is used in all cases. Section properties of the frames, stiffeners, and sheet are nominal, as depicted in figure 1. The actual properties to be used in design are discussed in part VI of the Handbook of Structural Stability (ref. 5). This handbook contains a critical review of the field of general instability. It presents comparisons of theory and. test data which delineate the utility both of the theoretical results presented herein and of other theories which do not employ the orthotropic-shell theory. A summary of the results of the investigations appears in table 1. Short discussions of the analyses of each case investigated are also included. The derivations of the general instability stresses are presented. in appendixes A to D.

NACA TN 11.237 I. Is

bending moment of inertia of frame including effective sheet, in. bending moment of inertia of stiffener including effective sheet, J1 + J5 distributed torsional moment of inertia of frame, Ji/d, cu in. distributed torsional moment of inertia of stiffener,
Cu in.

J Jr

torsional moment of inertia of stiffener, Js ky

torsional moment of inertia of frame,

buckling coefficient f or unstif

fl)

NACA TN 231
pressure loading on cylinder, psi transverse shears on shell element, lb radius of cylinder, in. torque loading on cylinder wall, in. thickness of cylinder wall, in. effective thickness of cylinder wall in shear-buckled state distributed area of frame, A1/d, in. As/b, in.

p Qx,Qy R T t t tf t5 u,v,w

distributed area of stiffener,

displacements in x-, y-, and z-directions, in.

NACA TN 4-237 circumferential-compressive-buckling stress; also, general circumferential normal stress, psi -r shear-buckling stress; also, general shear stress, psi HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Early theoretical investigations into the buckling of stiffened circular shells were performed by FlUgge (ref. 1), Dschou (ref. 3), and Taylor (ref. 14.). Filigge derived the trio of linear equilibrium equations analogous to those for isotropic cylinders which have been utilized by many investigators. Dschou solved these equations for stiffened circular cylinders under axial load. Taylor derived a differential equation for axially loaded orthotropic circular cylinders utilizing the seine approach as did Donnell in obtaining his well-known eighth-order partial di

6 THEO1ETICAL RESULTS

NACA TN !i.237

The theoretical buckling stresses for orthotropic cylinders under various loadings are shown in table 1. Derivations of these expressions are presented in the appendices. Buckling stresses were determined on the assumption that the spacings of the longitudinal stiffeners and. the circumferential frames were small enough to consider the cylinder to act as a uniform orthotropic shell. Effects of boundary conditions on the general instability stresses for the various loadings are discussed in the following paragraphs. Axial Load The solution chosen by Taylor for the case of axial loading represents the waveform assumed in the classical solution of simply supported isotropic cylinders, in which linear theory is used. It is applicable to both moderate-length and. long cylinders.

NACA TN 14.237

this length range a satisfactory solution to the problem may be obtained although boundary conditions are not satisfied for isotropic cylinders. The same situation was assumed to apply to stiffened cylinders. The moderate-length solution satisfies the requirement that w = 0 on the boundaries but does not correspond to vanishing moments at these locations. However, the buckling stress for an isotropic moderate-length cylinder in torsion is relatively insensitive to specifications on these latter quantities, since there is less than 10-percent difference between the theoretical buckling stresses for simply supported and clamped edges. The general instability behavior of orthotropic cylinders is considered to parallel the buckling behavior of moderate-length and long isotropic circular shells. Consequently, the same solution to the buck ling equation and the same simplifications in the mathematics are assumed. to be applicable. The mathematics was simplified by assuming that the ratio of circtmferential to axial wave length was negligible compared. with unity.

8 APPENDIX A DERIVATION OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

NACA TN 11.237

the The derivation of Taylor's differential equation in which are also included is effects of shear arid circumferential normal stress er are presented below. Tbe geometric properties of a stiffened cylind portrayed schematically in figure 1. cylinder Taylor derived the equilibrium equation for an orthotropic forces in the plane of a by combining the compatibility equation for a plate eleplate element with that for equilibrium of forces normal to These two situations are ment with initial curvature in one direction. depicted in figure 2. For equilibrium in the "plane" of the element

NACA TN 14.237

aN -

_u

(3a)

=_=

Et1'

=X^!

I=:= G Gt

(3c)

(3d)

10 If the Airy stress function F is introduced

NACA TN 11.237

(6)

then equation (5) becomes

1 ftf

1w = R x2

(7)

MACA TN !i-237

II

GJ
+

______

+ If - + 1i.

) [ 2
X + 2N

l(
E

____ +

(w)

.1 _.i
R2

(9)

if it is assumed that p is constant. For an isotropic cylinder this will reduce to Donnell's equation for v = 0.

12 APPENDIX B GENERAL INSTABILITY UNDER A)CEAL COMPRESSION Taylor utilized, as the solution to equation (9),
Wmn Slfl

NACA TN 237

mx sin fly

for the analysis of axial compressive buckling of an orthotropic circular cylinder. For this case

NACA TN 4-237 where tf I

=

13

- t5If

'f tSIf - (G2-tJ/E2)

- t5 tf 15 - (G2J/E2) -

(G2J/E2)

The half-wave lengths are It/rn and. it/n in the longitudinal and circumferential directions, respectively.
When t = tf = t equation (12) becomes
=

and.

15

If

t3/l2, then

and

NACA TN

APPENDIX C GENERAL INSTABILITY UNDER E'ERNAL PRESSURE For external-pressure loading, eq.uation (9) becomes E
\tf Gt

_____

GJ

_____

L a2\I

axk

a2 x+NyW+= 0

(16)

NACA TN 237
and. consequently the pressure is found. In the form

15

pRn2 = I5rn1 + rn2n2 + Ifn1 + E E

(21)

/ R2a+ G 2n2 + tf t5)

or, with

= n/rn, the expression for the pressure becomes -1

= rn2/". + + If t32) + E

(R2) (2 +

+ ts

(22)

Moderate-Ingth Cylinder Under Radial Pressure

16

NACA TN 237

Actually m =

and. n =

where ). is the half-wave length Then equation (22) becomes

+ E \LJ \tf G 2+ t5

in the circumferential direction.

2f pR(ait\( s G
+

7-

r)

If)

(25)

For the minimum integral value of a in the solution of equation (25), a = 1. Then with 3 >> 1 (where 3 = L/?), which assumes that the axial wave length is much larger than the circumferential wave length, pR - [R2(\2

pj t6

(26)


NACA TN 14.237 or 17

1/14.
=

5.51

1 3 If I l\ L(()

1/11. 5.53() tf

)j

3/2 (Pf\ (R
J

(30)

For isotropic cylinders,

3/14.

E/1\ ay = 5.51 \12)

\1/2 (t3 \R)

or

3/2

18

NAC

TN #237

(2 + 132)2 +
=

12ZL2m
+

132)2

where

m = iit/L.

For hydrostatic pressure,

2 kp = (ffi2 + 132) + 2 12ZL2m

(35)
+

2 =1 and

+ 13

(2 +

132)

When

2 ky=kp=13
+j6

(36)

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19

Long Cylinder Under Radial Pressure For a long cylinder under radial pressure, the buckling mode corresponds to that of a ring, for which Levy obtained the result
P
=

3EIf./R3

(39)

With

pR

it follows, from equations (39) and (4-o), that

23 APPENDIX D

NACA TN 14.231

BUCKLING OF CIRCULAR CYLINDERS UNDER TORSION Moderate -Length Cylinders For shear loading of moderate-length circular cylinders

tT

T/2R2l

(2)

Nx=Ny=O As was shown by Becker and Gerard for isotropic cylinders of moderate length, a useful solution for Tcr is obtained when the expression

NACA TN 14237 which yields

5/8

21

146(t5\\3/81
7
=

1/2 (145)

I )

-)

This agrees with the data of Stein, Sanders, and Crate for ring-stiffened cylinders in torsion (ref. 8), at large values of ZL. It reduces to the isotropic solution for v = 0: = 0.731(t/)5(R/L)h/2

The result of equation (11.6) is 5.7 percent lower than the exact isotropic solution obtained by Batdorf for v = 0.313.

22

NACA TN 11.237

27t - (:tf (n\2 \mR I \) E

3(t
+

(11.9)

\nL)

Upon minimization of r with respect to m and employing n = 2 for the long cylinder,
3/11. (t5\ l.754E(-LT 1/11.

\R2)

rj
v

(50)

This reduces to the isotropic result, with = O.272E(t/R)3/2

= 0, (i)

NACA TN 11.237

23

REFERENCES 1. FlUgge, W.: Die Stabilitt d.er Kreiszylind.erschale. Ing.-Archiv, Bd.. III, Heft 5, Dec. 1932, pp. 11.63-506. 2. Donnell, L. H.: Stability of Thin-Walled Tubes Under Torsion. NACA Rep. 11.79, 1933. 3. Dschou, Dji-DjU.n: Die Druckfestigkeit versteifter zylindrischer Schalen. Luftfalirtforschung, Bd. 11, Nr. 8, Feb. 6, 1935, pp. 223-2311-. 14. Taylor, J. L.: Stability of a Monocoque in Compression. R. & M. No. 1679, British A.R.C., 1935. 5. Becker, Herbert: Handbook of Structural Stability. Part VI - Strength of Stiffened Curved Plates and Shells. NACA TN 3786, 1958.

TABLE 1

THEORETICAL GENERAL INSTABILITY STRESSES FOR

ORTHOTROPIC CIRCULAR CYLINDERS Long cylinders

Moderate-length cylinders

+ (GJ/2E)
+

a
Rts2/ts) +

r2

1/2

(GJ/2E)

1
(E/2G)j

[(2/ts)

(E/2G)j

1/14.

fPf '\

3/2

5.51E()

/ R\

ay

3E(Pf/'R)2

26

NACA TN 237