In-plane buckling of elastic edge-constrained curvilinear shells under central radial load

In this study, the elastic buckling behavior of elastic edge-constrained curved shells under the effect of a central radial load was investigated numerically. Various design parameters were expressed to characterize the effect of elastic edge restraints on the load carrying capacity. These parameters can be defined as the shell plane thickness, shell plane length, radius of the curved shell, spring angle of the curved shell and the stiffness degree of the springs providing the edge restraint. Here, the change in the load carrying capacity of elastic edge-constrained curved shells compared to fixed edge-constrained curved shells depending on these parameters was also investigated. Among these parameters, the depth and radius of the curved shell were kept constant and the wall thickness, center spring angle and elastic spring coefficients were changed. The obtained analysis results were compared with each other and according to fixed edge conditions.