u

Iiili ~~
eCCS /II. I EUROPEAN CONVENTION FOR CONSTRUCTIONAL STEELWORK
CECM
e K s I jill CONVENTION EUROPEENNE DE LA CONSTRUCTION METALLIOUE
EUROPAISCHE KONVENTION FOR STAHLBAU

ECCS - Technical Committee 8 - Structural Stability

Technical Working Group 8.4 - Stability .of Shells

EUROPEAN RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR STEEL CONSTRUCTION
BUCKLING OF SHELLS

THIRD EDITION

1984
All r1ghts rP.servP.d. No par! of thiS f11it"llir;;tl10n may bl' 1Cp,o:Juce<1. store<11n cl r..:1r1eval ~ystpm,o : tr.:m:;m1tted 1n any
form or by any means electron1c. mechan,cat photoc:opy•ng rE'rorcting. or oth~rw1se . without the onor perm i ssion
of the Copyright owner :

ECCS General Secretar1a1

CECM Av des Ombrages 32·36 . bte ?0
EKS B • 1200 BrussP.IS i8eJg,uml

ECCS assumes no liab1lity w•th respect to JI ,P. IJS~ f<·• any dpj..lJ,..:.at,on ollne mate''"' ,,,,(j,nl;·,rn>i'II•O" t;:Onta1ned 1n
this publication
EUROP£AII RECOI-U-fENDATIONS FOR STEEL CONSTRUCTION :
Sect:ion of. 5 - BuckLing of ShBUB

The ECCS Recommendation' R 4.6 on "BUCKLING OF SHELLS" &nd the appurten.ant

coacencs C 4.6 vere drafted by Technical \Jerking Croup TIJC 8.4, "Stability of
Shells", "hich has the follo ... ing membership;

Hecnbers Co rresponding ~emb~r•

F.~. Bornscheuer D K. Buche rc USA

H. Lsslin&er (Hs) D S. Kob.lyashi J
G.D. Calletly CB
A.H. Haas NL
V. Krupl<o cs
L . A. Samuelson s
U. Vandepicte (Chairman) B

The R~c.o=endati.ons uere adopted on February 29, 1980 by Technical Com.mitue 8

"Structural Stability" during ics meeting in Berlin. The recommendations on
shell~ do not £tand by themselves, but are to be i.nc.orporated into and used
together uirh the European Reco~endati.ons for Steel Con,truction published by
the t::CCS in 1978. ln several ~:lauHs of R 4.6, TI.'C 8.4 inrroduc.cd a pattial
£afety factor in order to take i.nro account the high imperfection 'ensi.rivicy
of shells under certain condirions .

Technical \Jerking Croup 8.~ uns not responsible for the determinacion of the
general load factors to be uaed in the load combinati.ons uhich 'h~ll £truccurc'
and other acruc t ures should be ab\e to uithstand before failure.

D . VAHD£:PITTE (Chairman) NOVEHBER 1980

TECH N I CAL \J 0 R K 1 N C C R 0 UP 0 N T ll E "STAll 1 L 1 T Y 0 f S II ELLS ''

lHTROOUCTlON TO THE SECOND ED1TJON

This 2nd slightly revised edition of cloe Recocnme ndatioiis on "BUCKLJHG Of

SHELLS" and the comments ~Jere prepared by TI.'G 8.4 "Stability of Shells" and
~Jere approved on October I, 1982 by ECCS Technical Corumirtee 8 "Structural
Stability" during its tl>eeting 1n P~•is. A feu notations are changed into
those adopted by Technical Committee 8 for gene<al use.

ln Sepcembe< 1982, TI.'C 8.4 had the folloiJing membership;

Hembers Correspondins Hembers

F. IJ. Born s chcucr• D K. nuchcrt USA

P.J. Doulinr; GB $. Koboy.Hhi J
H. Esslinger (Hs} D V. Krupka cs
L. F'inzi 1 C.D. Hiller USA
C. D. C.:~ll et 1 y CB
F. Ram~~~e<,to<fe< 1\
L.A. Samuelson s
D. Vandcpitee (Chairman} ll

D. VANDEPITTE (Chai.rman) JANUARY 198J

TECHNICAL IJORKlNC CROUP ON THE "STABILITY OF SHELLS"

ECCS-CECM-EKS
Av. des Ombrage~. 32136 Ble 20
B 1200 BRUXtLLES (8e1Qoum)
 l.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS

4. 6 Buckling of shells 5

4. 6. 1 Unstiffened circular cylinders subject to meridional

compression 5
4.6.1.1 Range of applicab i lity 5
4.6.1.2 Limitation o f imperfe cti ons 5
4.6.1.3 Strength condition 7
4.6.1.4 Buckling stress a 9
u
4.6.1.5 Values of the reduction factor a 11
4.6.1.5.1 Pure axial compressive load 11
4.6.1.5.2 Pure bending 13
4.6.1.5.3 Axial load combined with bending 13
4.6.1.5.4 Axial load combined with internal pressure 13

4.6.2 Circular cylinders under uniform external pressure 15

4.6.2.1 Range of applicability 15
4.6.2.2 Design of unstiffened cylinders 17
4.6.2.3 Ring-stiffened cylinders 21
4.6.2.3.1 Cylindrical shell between stiffening rings/bulkheads 23
4.6.2.3.2 Stiffening rings 25
4.6.2.3.2.1 General and notation 25
4.6.2.3.2.2 Design of stiffening rings 27
4.6.2.3.3 Cylinders with light and heavy stiffeners 31
4.6.2.4 Simplified design method 33
4.6.2.4.1 Cylindrical shell between stiffening rings 33
4.6.2.4.2 Stiffening rings 33

4.6.3 Circular cylinders under combined axial load and

external pressure 33

4. 6. 4 Unstiffened spherical shells under uniform radial

pressure 35
4.6.5 Circular cylindrical shells with longitudinal
stiffeners and subjected to meridional compression 39
4. 6. 5. 1 Range of applicability 39
4.6.5.2 Limitation of imperfe ctions 41
4.6.5.2.1 Initial imperfe ctions of the she ll panels 41
4.6.5.2.2 Initial imperfe ct i ons of the stiffeners 41
4.6.5.3 Strength conditions 43
4.6.5.4 Buckling in the elastic range 45

4.6.5.4.1 Lo c a l shell buckling 45

2.

4.6.5.4.1.1 Buckling stress for a perfect panel 45

4.6.5.4.1.2 Buckling stress for an imperfect panel 47
4.6 . 5.4.2 Stiffened panel buckling 51
4.6.5.4.2.1 Buckling stress for a perfect stiffened cylinder 51
4.6.5.4.2.2 Buckling stress for an imperfect stiffened cylinder 63
4.6.5.4.2.3 Simplified sti f fened panel buckling analysis 65
4.6.5.5 Buckling in the elastic-plastic range 67
4.6.5.5.1 Local shell buckling 67 .
4.6.5.5.2 Stiffened panel buckling 67
4.6.5.6 Torsional stiffness of stringers 69

4.6.8 Liquid-filled conical shells 71

4.6.3.1 Range of applicability 71
4.6.8.1.1 Description of the shell, its support and its
loading 71
4.6.8.1.2 Limitation of initial imperfections 75
4.6.8.2 Strength condition 77
4.6.8.2.1 Elastic buckling of cones with 15 ° ~ S < 65 ° 77 .
4.6.8.2.2 Elastic buckling of cones with 8 < 15° 79

References 82
List of SyrriboZ.s 84
....................................... - .... ,. ......................... .
APPENDIX 87

The left hand pages contai n corrments

 COMMENTS
4.

c 4. 6. 1. 1 When the boundary conditions preclude radial and tangen-

tial displacements of both edges of theshell and when l does not
exceed the stated limit, the axial buckling load is almost inde-
pendent of i and theother boundary conditions. The buckling load
is much lower for cylinders whose edge is movable in the radial
or circumferential direction. For long cylinders both the length
and the boundary conditions affect the buckling behaviour because
column buckling comes into play. It may be said that a perfect
cylinder is a long one when the circumferential buck l ing wave
number changes from n = 2 ton= 1. For imperfect cylinders the
shell buckling modes may interact dangerously with the column
buckling mode. Therefore, the length limitation has been chosen
to coincide with the transition frqm n = 3 to n = 2.

C 4.6.1.2 The reference length 4irt is related to the size of the

potential buckles. Straightening of cylinder walls byheat treat-
ment after erection is not permitted, since it does not improve
the load carrying capacity. Rather it will replace shape imper-
fections by additional residual stresses, thereby simulating too
good a quality.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 5.

R 4.6 BUCKLING OF SHELLS

In section R 4.6 pd represents the pressure and ad represents

the stress for which the shell is designed. The design loads are
defined in R 1.5.1*. They are combinations of the normal working
loads multiplied by the appropriate load factors.

p u represents the minimum pressure and a u represents the mini-

mum stress which the shell will withstand. These values are usually
taken as the lower-bound results obtained from buckling tests on
reasonably well-manufactured shells. However, for imperfe cti on sen-
sitive shell-load combinations, the lower-bound results ar e divided
by the number ~ or by an other appropriate number.

R 4.6.1 UNSTIFFENED CIRCULAR CYLINDERS SUBJECT TO MERIDIONAL

COMPRESSION

R 4.6.1.1 Range of applicability

The dimensions r, t and .t of the

shell are shown in figure 4.6-l, along
with its displacements u, v, w and with
the stress resultants in the shell.
The recommendations apply only if the
boundary conditions are such that
f v = w = 0 along both edges of the cylin-
der and if its length does not exceed

the limit defined by -.e. < 0.95

r =
{f
-
t

FIG. 4. 6-1

R 4.6.1.2 Limitation of imperfections

The arnpli tudes w of the imperfection are measured from a straight

rod (Fig. 4. 6-2 a) and a circular template (Fig. 4. 6-2b) held anywhere
between welds, respectively against any meridian and against any
parallel circle. The length of the rod and the template is .tr = 4Yrt~
but not grea ter than 9 5% of the distance respectively between cir-

* See A P P ENDI X , page 8 7

6. COMMENTS

Cylinders whose shape imperfections are due to previous buck-

ling are not covered by the rules, because their imperfections
are exactly in the buckling mode.

Perfect axisymmetric introductio n of the compressive forces

into the cylinder does not actually occur. The decrease in bu ck-
ling load resulting f r om a slight, practical l y unavoidab l e un-
evenness of the support of a wel l erected cylinder on a strong
foundation is covered by the reduction factor a . Cases where
the circwnferential slope of the cylinder base induced by the
settlement exceeds the limit indicated in [4.6-1] will be the
subject of special consideration ; the limit varies widel y ; it
depends on the ratios of .t, r and t and on the boundary conditions,
and it may be of the order of magnitude of 0. 3 °/oo or 0. 7 °/oo or
1 • 2 °/oo •

C 4.6.1.3 A stabilizing action is, for instance, an interna l pres-

sure p on the wall of an axially compressed cylinder. If p is
not bour;_a to increase at the same rat e as the axial loads, the
axial loads are multiplied by the appropriate load factors (see
R 1.5.1), but p is not (an example is mentioned inC 4.6.1.5.4).
 RECOMMENDATIONS 7.

a b c
FIG. 4.6-2

cular welds and between meridional welds; A rod of length t r = 25t

is to be used across circular welds (Fig. 4.6-2c). When the ratio
of the largest measured inward amplitude w
to the corresponding tr
does not exceed 0.01 , the reduction factors a given in R 4.6.1.5
apply. When the ratio equals 0. 02, the values of a are halved.
When the ratio is in the interval 0.01 -0.02, linear interpolation
between a and a/2 provides the reduction factor to be applied.

Special consideration is required in cases where one or more

circumferential joints are bolted.

R 4.6.1.3 Strength condition

The design value ad of the acting meridional membrane compres-
sive stress shall not exceed the value a of the buckling stress :
u

ad ,;; au (4.6-1)

When calculating ad the designer shall multiply all external loads

by load factors exceeding 1.0. However, stabilizing actions that
are not directly related to the destabilizing loads, shall not be
multiplied by a load factor. When the loading is theone considered
in R 4.6.1.5.2 or R 4.6.1.5.3, the stress ad is the design value
of the extreme compressive stress acting in the cross-section of
the cylinder.
8. COHMENTS

C 4.6.1.4 The reduction factor a is the lower limit of the ratio

of the experimental buckling load, with buckling assumed to occur
in the elastic range, to the theoretical critical load of the per-
fect cylinder, calculated with pure membrane stresses at the pre-
buckling stage. a accounts for the d et rimental effect of shape
imperfections, residual stresses and edge disturbances. a depends
on the imperfections, on the geometry and on the type of loading.

The ECCS design philosophy takes care of the structural sa-

f ety through partial s afe ty factors, one of which takes into ac-
count the ability of the mathema t ical model to r ef lect correctly
the behaviour of the structure under the specified loading con-
ditions. For most steel structures, such as beams, frames and
plates, the overall safety factor adopted by ECCS, which is the
product of the partial safety factors, is 1.5 The same factor
1.5 underlies the rule given in R 4.6.2 for the design of a cy-
lindrical shell wall under external pressure. However, an addi-
tional partial safety factor y = y is deemed necessary for cylin-
drical shells subjected to meridional compressive stresses be-
cause of their unfavourable post-buckling behaviour (Fig. 4.6-4}.
The wide scatter observed in experimental buckling loads or stres-
ses results from the high imperfection sensitivity and is about
1. 3 5 times greater than in the external pressure case. It is
reasonable to assume that, the wider the sea tter, the lower the
buckling strength of an actual shell might fall below the experi-
mental lower bound curve used as a basis for the design, and the
farther the representative acting load should be kept removed from
that curve. This has led to the adoption of y = 34 .
The additional factory is not necessary for a very thick and
short cylinder which does not fail by buckling, but by yielding.
For this reason expression (4.6-3) has been so devised that a
u
equals f for a very stocky cylinder, and, moreover, so that the
y -
graph of a If , defined by (4. 6-6) and plotted with>. as abscissa 1
u y
has a horizontal tangent for 1 =
0 and has the same ordinate and
the same slope for I = Vf as the curve defined by (4.6-5).

If one omits the additional partial safety factor y = 34

0'
u
entirely the two equations relating - and 1 assume a simpler
fy
 RECOMMENDATIONS 9.

R 4.6.1.4 Buckling stress o u

o is given by
u
ao cr
au = y
with Y = 3,
4
provided that CLO <
1
ar = 2 fy
(4.6-2)

and by au = fy[1 -0.1123 (a~;J.G] when =

1
a. a 01' > 2 fy (4.6-3)

In thes e expressions fy is the yield stress, a is a reduction fac-

tor given below and a

CT'
= E ·! = 0. 605 E! (4.6-4)
V3(1 -\) 2 ;' :r> r

is the critical compressive stress for an axially loaded, perfect

elastic cylinder in which a pure state ofuniform membrane stresses
exists before buckling and whose edges are immovable in both the
radial buckling.

equations (4.6-2) and

0
u 0.75 when 1 > rf (4.6-5)
(4.6-3) may be written :
>;2

and = 1-0.412311. 2 when 1 < 12 (4.6-6)

0
u graphically in
The relationship between and 1 is represented
fy
figure 4.6-3.

u
-
fy

......__.,
~ 1 elastic region
o.s
~ I r- -r.:_1.'2

0.6 ~ O"u
- = 1-0.4123"A

3
-· -
K -
1'-., O"u
I
0.75

I'Z~~2
e f- I-- -~
I
0.2 I
I F==== t--
0
0.25 0.50 0.75
I
1.25\{2 1. 5 2.0 2.5 3.0_
).,:: Vc!t
_:_y__
a. (jc r
FIG. 4. 6-3
10. COMMENTS

form. These are

au I2
for 0 < T =< 12' (elastic-plastic region) ::::: 1 - -
= fy 4
~

au 1
for I => /2' :::::
-2
fy >..

These two equations also give identical ordinates and slopes at

au
I = 12'. Naturally, they yi e ld highe r T values.
y
The empirical limit i = If separating the range of validity
of (4.6-5) from that of (4.6-6) has been so chosen that compari-
son of experimental results with predictions obtained by means of
(4.6-5) and (4.6-6) shows these predictions tobereasonably safe
[4. 6-18].

C 4.6.1.5 The curves in figures 4.6-5 and 4.6-6 giving the reduc-
tion factors a. 0 , a.b and a.p have been established as the lower
bound of scatter bands of numerous experimental points obtained
from tests on plastic and metal cylinders performed over many
years by a number of researchers. Hence the equations for a. 0 ,

a.band a.p in R 4. 6. 1. 5 are not derived from theory, but are

curve-fitting formulas. Accounts of the tests pertaining to
a.
0
are to be found in 8.6-2] and 8.6-3],
a.b [4.6-3] and [4.6-4] 1

a. p [4.6-5].

Those giving values for a.b and a.p were confirmed by recent expe-
rimental results. Experimental results are too scarce to allow
a lower bound for a.b to be established in the r/t > 1500 range.

The values given for a. are conservative for very short cy-
linders.

C 4. 6. 1. 5. 4 An internal pressure p does not raise the critical

axial load computed for a perfect elastic cylinder above the va-
lue given by (4.6-4). But a high p does alleviate the detrimen-
tal effect of imperfections so thoroughly that thereduction fac-
tor approaches unity. If there is a direct physical relationship
between the axial load and the internal pressure the load factor
applicable to the axial load also applies to the internal pres-
sure. If the relationship between the axial load and the inte r-
nal pressure is uncertain, as in the case of silos 1 then the
 RECOMMENDATIONS II..

Ax ia\ stress

crcr

Shortening ot cylinder

FIG. 4. 6-4 Experimental diagram for an

axially loaded cylinder

R 4.6.1.5 Values of the reduction factor a

R 4.6.1.5.1 Pure axial compressive load :

:---

~
""" ~ :-- ~
~ --........_ r---. \\
0.5 0.5 \~
~ ~~
rc;-
"~ b
f--.
-
~0 r--
--
0 100 0 212 1000 \500 2000 .I. 3000
t

FIG. 4.6-5 Evaluation of a0 and ab

a -- a 0 (Fig. 4.6-5)

0.83
with a0 = for 'f'/t < 212
'h + 0. 0 1r/ t '
(4.6-7)
0. 70
a
0 = VO.l + 0. Olr / t'
for r/t > 212
12. COl:-1MENTS

design axial load must be combined with the minimum i nt ernal

pressure which is certain to coexist with the axial load.

In the case of axial load combined with an i nternal pressure

p, it is not aa which has to be compared with f / 2 in
=a a
p cr cr y
(4.6-2) and ( 4 .6-3) and which has to be inserted into ( 4 . 6- 3) or
in the expression for I i n order to evaluate the eff ect of plasti-
city on the design buckling stre s s a The evaluat i on of a and
u u
the comparison have to be based on t h ee ff ec t i ve s t re ss a f'f
e J ~ cr
corresponding with the occurrence of supposedly elastic buck l ing,
i.e. with the axial stress o
x~ c:r
= - a p a cr' and with the circumfe -
rential tensile stress ay = Pf- produced by the internal pressure
p that coexists with a a a f~ is given by the von MISES-
p cr> e r~cr
HUBER formula, as applied in the present case
0
eff~cr
= la x~cr
2 + a2 -
y
a y a x~cr is then given by

a
a eff~u = e[t_..cr
y
with y = 34 I when a
eff~ c r -
< !K
2
and by
a
eff3u
~
fy [1
- 0 • 41 2 3 (a f
eff~cr
~ r·] when (j ~
eJf~ cr =
> !X
2

0 is to be considered a s the effective stress at buckling

eff., u
and it should exceed the effective stress
(j e ff~ d = va~d + (j~d- a xda yd under design loading. This procedure I
although not underpinned by direct experimental evide n ce , is
thought to be rational and safe.

Numerical examples :

1) r = 3750 mm , t = 3 2 mm, fy = 34 0 Nl mm 2 p = 0.42 67 Nlmm 2 ,

axd = - 2 00 Nlmm 2 (axial stress under design loading). It is

assumed that p and a are physically independent and that p
X
does not change when IaX I is inc r eased to iaxdi due to f acto-
ring of the loads. Th e calculation is as follows :

r/t=11?, a
y
= 50 N/ mm 2 P = prfi' =':JLE VI
ff'
t = I o . oo 25 7 ,
Et lt
a
0
= 0.563 (4.6-? ) , a
p
(4.6-1 0 ),

(4. 6-4), a
x, c :r = -a p c c :r = -738 Nlmm 2
c e ff ~ c:r = 7 6 4 NI mm 2 > f y I 2 and a
e ff~ u =
2 54 Nlmm 2 •

The e ffec t ive stress under desi g n loading is

o ,"
e ;r~ d
= 2 2 9 Nl mm 2 < a
e fJ~ u
fO •
 RECOMMENDATIONS 13.

R 4.6.1.5.2 Pure bending of the cylinder in the meridional direc-

tion : a = CJ.b (Fig. 4.6-5), with

o.b = 0.188? +0.8113a 0 ( 4. 6- 8 )

and a given by (4.6-? ) .

0
(4.6- 8 ) has been experimentally verified for r/t < 1500.

R 4.6.1.5.3 Axial compressive load combined with bending

Ct OOO +etbOb
Ct = 0 o +ob
(4. 6-9 )

with a 0 given by (4.6-?) and ab given by (4.6-8),

o the uniform compressive stress due to the design axial load,
0
ab the maximum compressive stress due to the design bending
moment.

R 4.6.1.5.4 Axial compressive load combined with internal pres-

sure p (Fig. 4. 6-6) :

P =ro p =00
aP 0.05 1::::---
~ r-
0.02 ap 0.05
QB
0.01 QB 0.02

~r---
O.OOf:l
0.003
0.001 0.01
0.6 0.6 t:::-----...
p =0

O.l.

0.2
0.4

0.2
~ ~

~
---
:-...
r--____
~
-
0.006

0.003

O.OOl

P.::O

20 60 100 0 t.OO BOD 1200 1600 2000 2!.00 r 3000

t
pr.fr
P= Et.fi
FIG. 4. 6-6 Evaluation of ap

(4.6-10)

with a 0 given by (4.6-?) and p = prl? , in which p is the design

Et / t
internal pressure.
14. COMMENTS

2} The problem is the same, but i t is now assumed that a and p

X
are automatically proportional and that axd = - 200 N/ mm 2 and
ayd = 1. 5 x 50 = ?5 N/mm 2 under design loading. If a
X~CY'
had
the same value as in example 1, then the simultaneous circum-
7~ 8
ferential stress would be ay = 2~0 x ?5 = 27? N/mm2 and we would
have p =0 .01425, a.
p
= 0. 856 and a
XJCY'
= -930 N/mm 2 • Hence we
have to revise I aXJCY' J upwards until a
y
, p and CL
p
l e ad to the
same value of a It turns out that a = -955 N/mm 2 .
XJCY' XJ C Y'
The corresponding a
y
is 35BN/mm2 ae ff Jcr = 1 17 5 N/ mm2 and
ae ff· _, u = 2?3 N/mm2. The effective str e ss under design loading
is ae f f d =J 2 4 6 NI mm 2 < a ef f~u .

C 4. 6. 2 .l During erection the shell may temporarily have a free

(upper) edge. If i t is subjected to external pressure at that
stage (e.g. wind load) then its buckling pressure will be lower
than the p value calculated from the rules given in R 4. 6. 2.
u
If , moreover , the radial and axial displacement of the other
(lower) edge is not prevented by the support, the allowable ex-
ternal pressure on the cylindrical shell is reduced to that for
an infinitely long tube.

The design rules described in R 4. 6. 2 are equivalent to those

in the British Standard BS 5500 [4.6-7].

In order to avoid local buckling of stiffening rings w!:.ich

have a symmetrical flange at the edge remote from the cylindrical
shell (see figure 4. 6-7} , their proportions should satisfy all
three following requirements [4.6-17]
h t 3 + t b3
lJ lJ f [ > fyr
E

1.1 Vf
f-:.V/
f
·. yr
f is the yield stress of the ring stiffener material.
yr
[4.6-17] contains requirements for flat bar stiffeners and also
for stiffeners whose flange remote from the cylindrica l shell
extends only on one side of the web.
 RECOMMENDATIONS IS.

R 4.6.2 CIRCULAR CYLINDERS UNDER UNIFORM EXTERNAL PRESSURE

R 4.6.2.1 Range of applicability

The procedure described below applies only to cylinders which

are circular to within 0. 5 % of the radius measured from the true
centre. In establishing the deviations from the mean circle, one
may use templates, chord gauges or radial measurements [4. 6-6]. At
least 24 equally-spaced positions around the circumference should
be chosen. Initial shape measurements are not necessary if the
suitability of the actual shell structure can be confirmed by an
external pressure test of magnitude pd •

The external pressure p may act on the cylindrical shell wall

only or on its end closures as well (in the latter case the loading
is sometimes called uniform hydrostatic pressure). The rules to be
given apply to both cases. If the cylinders have either one or two
free edges, which are unrestrained by stiffening rings 1 then their
design is not covered by the following rules.

tt .
L_~
h2
·Stiffener centroid
· Centroid of !stiffener+ effective
nw h, h,
- rtw shell section)
j_ J 'I
It Lb 1 ~ Unsupported length of
I I
shell
rf rr rc r, r
fe 0 r fh

z
FIG. 4. 6-7 - Dimensions of cylinder and stiffening rings
l6. COMMENTS

C 4.6.2.2
t
The expression E-8, where 8 is given by Eq. (4 .6-14),
:!:"
is the bifurcation buckling pressure of a perfect elastic cylin-
drical shell of unsupported length R. which is subjected to uniform
external pressure. The boundary conditions at the shell ends
during buckling are assumed to be the classical simply-supported
ones (i.e. n =v = w=m :: 0 at both ends) ; n is the numbe r of
X X
compl ete circumfer ential waves. As discussed in [ 4. 6-8] , E; B
is a slight modification of ·the von MISES formu l a for this problem.
The lowest bifurcation buckling pressure is EtS . /r .
m'l.n
The abscissa in figu re 4.6-9 is a parame t e r I d e f ined as

'v~
~
and the ordinate is the ratio of p
u
to p
y
Clearly,

for a perfect elastic cylinder , n

l:'u -- pcr and the relationship
Pu Pu 1
between - and A is - - =~ ; this latter curve is comparable to
Py Py I
an Euler hyperbola. Due to plasticity and imperfections, however,
Pu
for a real cylinder is lower than ...!:.._ and is given by the upper
Py >:2
curve in figure 4. 6-9 or by Table 1. The above mentioned curve
is a lower bound curve [ 4.6-9] of a cloud of experimental points
derived from about 700 tests on cylinders made of various mate-
. .th .t.t
rials, with widely vary1ng - , and ! ratios, with external,
r r r
internal or no intermediate "light" stiffeners, and which buckled
in the elastic or in the plastic range. The plot contained only
data pertaining to shells whose maximum departure from t h e mean
circle was less than 0. 5 % of the radius. The upper curve in
figure 4. 6-9 may not, therefore, be used for shells having greater
out-of-roundness.

Boundary conditions other than the classical ones yield per-

ceptibly higher buckling pressures only when u = 0 at both edges.
However, the condition u =0 is very difficult to achieve in ac-
tual construction and it has not, therefore, been considered in
the design criteria.

By performing non-linear calculations to d e t ermine the mini-

mum post-buckling load of perfect elastic cylinders under external
pressure, one finds an a of 0.6 [4.6-10]. This value of a is a
little higher than the minimum exper irnental value cited in con-
nection with Eq. (4.6-1 6 ).
 RECOMMENDATIONS I 7.

R 4.6.2.2 Design of unstiffened cylinders

The strength requirement in this case is

(4 .6-11)

where p is dete rmined as follows.

u
First, p is obtained from
y

( 4 .6-12)

In the above, p is the pressure at which the mean hoop stress at

y
midlength of an elastic cylinder reaches the yield stress. Eq.
(4.6-12) assumes that membrane stresses only are present.

Then p , the buckling pressure of a simply-supported elastic

cr
cylindrical shell , is calculated. In the calculation, membrane
stresses are assumed to prevail prior to buckling and small-deflection
shell bending theory is used. The relevant equation is

(4. 6-13)

where B . is a function of .t/r and t/r and its value can be read
m-z.n
directly from figure 4.6-8 (f._ is the unsupported length of the cy-
linder see figure 4.6-7). The definition of 6 is

6 =
n'- 1 +
1 (
-}(y)' [(1,;)'
1
+lr +
2
t 2
2
12r (1- v J
[ n2 - 1 + rJ )
('f 2\ (4.6-14)

where n ( ~ 2) is the number of circwnferential waves at buckling.

Physically, f3 is the mean elastic circumferential strain at buckling.
From Eqs. (4.6-12) and (4.6-13) one determines I, where

(4.6-15 )

For elastic shell buckling, i.e. for I~ 1, a simple expression may

be employed to find p , the collapse p r e ssure (lower bound) of the
u
imperfe ct cylinder. This is

(4.6-16)

where a = 1/2. This value of a was arrived at by comparing the

results of many buckling tests on cylindrical shells with theoret ic al
buckling predictions (in whi c h the pre-buckling stress res ultants
 r {.\{':\. -\. ,.. o:\ , oc3
~·10 ~ 10 ~
y' '!> .~ ~ ll-
'!> \\,... 10 t.
"l,. '> ~ ~~ '>~ '< . 9 9~ 9":1 0~ p~ 9'1- 9" 9' Y' . 9° ~p 9° 9° ~-·
.1 ex;
.09
2.·103
.08 1.6~16 3
1.3·103
.06 [3=.163
8.-16 4
.05 I ;.<:I: ~~ 6.·104
:;r., 5.-164
.04 4.·104
3.·104
,03~
'-rj
H 9 2.·164
Ll 1.6A164
1.3- 1044
.., .02
f$=16
0\ 8."' 105
I v~ ll±I:H
ex: 6.•105
5 ... 165 n
~itl!l1- 0
.L. 4.x1Q5
.rf. 3:
fTl
< .01
ffi J.v105 3:
0> M
c
.009
2.•105
z
0> .008 o-J
rt
~
f2"=i 1.6 ~ 105 U'l
0 .007 1.3,<105
:;)
.006 -5
0
...., '.f 10
~~=~--·.1--

.005 8.•106
1J)

~. t-,..:~ 6.•106
;::s .004 s.-106
l . -L
4 .•166
.;"I..::V- ' E '·' .
.003
3 .•16 6

2 ... 166
.002

r:=.l=il1.6 ·166

~O~
·6

~6
-Jr!;}.Jf7L I 1 ~
·00 \ .2 .J 4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 1. 20. 3 0. 40. '£.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 19.

were assumed to be those of the membrane state) .

In the plastic region, i.e. for >.-values in the range 0 ~ A < 1,

the value of p /p i s obtained directly from the upper curve in
u y
figure 4.6-9 with ~ (obtained from Eq. (4. 6-1 5)) used as abscissa
(alternatively Tablelmay be used). Knowing p (fromEq. (4.6-12)),
y
the value p is thus dete r mined.
u

"'"t
pu
ltl ........
~ m IH
'y !:+ illi llHlf§E
!.! u gE = I:=
!; !il
!;f;. i!.t!

0.9 fiiD lU liie

I~UJ
I ,... ..........

/" i:j;
1:1.;: l:s
0.8 //)
r;t:l rrt EE; M"i I~ ~
0.75 0'~
. !:; _-s, ,n I±! I!!;: '-'-'- .........
0.7
1-l rr rn il! ~ ;t:.
ttttt l!:l.!:: t=:
~ ~ !:::=
0.5
f.;;! m n !l

~~~
I'T'-' lh ~~
ll ~ l:::!==
0.5
lsl lt=fll r; P:~l!-1~
!582 I=
!:::;:=:

0.4 ·~ )~ I~ jg~
•-o-r [;:.=~
s.g!:=::=
~
d-i ~
1t tJJ1 :::t! ts..: I =
0.3
~ t:=
1::-'-+---

0.2 lir,::ltii H:r.-'-1!-;i:: ~~=

tm-r
m tTIHiiT: t2: :a:t:-0I~
=II I[ tn g :til:..:::=
0.1
~~ TH I+ 11- ~ llHt t ~~Lm ~ IDHw um:=. liH~i=F
0 ~ tr m :ttt1 It rr rttlt rnt=tr :rr- t11tfHlli IiU l!mIHIJiHi !lH~
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0. 9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3

Pu
FIG. 4. 6-9 - Evaluation of -
Py
20. COMMENTS

C 4. 6. 2. 3 The various buckling modes which have to be considered

in the design of externally-pressurized stiffened cylinders are :

(a) Buckling between stiffeners . In this mode the stiffeners

remain .more or less circular.

(b) Buckling between end diaphragms (bulkheads) or heavy stiffe-

ners . This buckling mode is known as general {or overall)
instability, the stiffeners lose their circularity and n is
usually relatively small {n = 2~ JJ 4~ 5 or 6).

(c) Tripping or local instability of the stiffeners. Theoretical

values for these buckling pressures can be obtained by using
available computer buckling programs. This failure mode can
be avoided by adequate dimensioning of the stiffeners - see
c 4.6.2.1.
 R E C 0 M ~1 E N D A T I 0 N S 21.

TABLE 1 -Evaluation of p u/p y for cylinders

PyiPcr I 0.1428 0.1481 0.1538 0.1600 0.1667 0.1739 0.1818

"".\ 0.378 0.385 0.392 0.400 0.408 0.417 0.426
Pu l Py 0.958 0.952 0.946 0.940 0.934 0.928 0.922

Py lpCT' 0.1905 0.2000 0.2105 0.2222 0.2353 0.2500 0.2667

1"
I 0.436
0.916
0.447
0.913
0.459
0.904
0.471
0.895
0.485
0.886
0.500
0.879
0.516
0.870
PulPy

Py lpC'l' 0.2857 0.3077 0.3333 0.3636 0.4000 0.4444 0.5000

"I 0.535 0.555 0.577 0.603 0.632 0.667 0.707
pulpy 0.861 0.849 0.835 0.822 0.802 0.780 0.754

py lpCT' 0.5714 0.6667 0.8000 1.000 1.333 2.000 4.000

I 0.756 0.817 0.894 1. 000 1.155 1.414 2.000
PulPy 0.720 0.679 0.604 0.500 0.375 0.250 0.125

Note (1) T - IJ!

( 2) ForT> 1.0 (i.e. elastic buckling) 1

R 4.6.2.3 Ring-stiffened cylinders

The . strength requirements for ring-stiffened cylinders are

that pd should not exceed pu (which applies to the design of the
cylindrical shell between the rings) and that the ring stiffeners
should not yield, even when allowance is made for stresses induced
by initial out-of-roundness.

In the following, equations will be given for the design of

both the shell and the stiffeners and a fairly rigorous treatment
will be given first. An approximate 1 and fast 1 hand-calculation
method is given later (see R 4.6.2.4). It was derived by omitting
several steps in the more accurate procedure . Before outlining
the latter, several parameters used in it need defining. These
are
22. COMHENTS

F
'--
0
~

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

O.L

0.3

0.2

O.l.

-0.1
0 2 3 I. 5 6 5 7

FIG. 4.6-lO - Evaluation of nand r;

For values of o > 7 n may be taken as 1
r; may be taken as 0
 RECOMMENDATIONS 23.

6
=!' [3 (1 - "2 ) ] 1(,
= 1.285 -t
r2t2 vrt'
cho -co s o
n -- she +sin o
6 tS h6 . 6
sh 2 cos 2 + c 2 S'l-n 2
£;; =2 sh l5 + sino
(4.6-1 7 )

w =
A(1 - f)
A + b t + 2 - 6-
nt :e:
2
1'
A = Ar
r-
r

where Ar is the area of the stiffener cross-section · (see figure 4 .. 6-7

for b , rr , etc.) . The parameters n and (, may be read from figure
4.6-10.

R 4.6.2.3.1 Q~§~g~-Q~_!h~-~Y!~~~~~£~1_§h§!1_e§t~§§~_!h§_§!~~~§~~Qg
;:!!}g§ie~!~h§~~§

The pressure, p , at which the mean elastic hoop stress mid-

y
way between the stiffeners reaches the yield stress is given by

(4. 6-18)

where wand(, are as given in Eq. (4.6-1 ? ) (sometimes the approxima-

tion w =.0 · is used to simplify the calculations ; this is tantamount
to assuming that no stiffeners are present).

The elastic buckling pressure of the shell Per is calculated

from Eq. (4.6-13) with .t being taken as the distance betwe en stif-
fening rings (i.e. the unsupported length of the shell).
24. COMMENTS

for for

~ ~
2 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6
- 21f1'

0 1.0980 1.0980 1.0980 1. 0980 1. 0980 0 1.D980 1.098D 1.0980 1.0980 1 .D980
0.01 1.082:5 1 .D823 1.0663 1.0663 1. 0504 D.01 0. 9072 0.9072 0.8913 0.8913 0.8913
D.D2 1.D663 1 .0504 1. 0265 0.9947 0.9629 0.02 0.4297 0 . 4297 0.4218 0.4218 0.4218
0.03 1. 0504 1.0027 0.9549 0 .9019 0.8~35 D.03 0. 2759 0. 27 59 0.2759 0.2759 0.2759
0.04 0.9907 0.9231 0.8515 0. 7838 0.7082 0.04 0.2207 0.2207 D.2207 0.2191 0.2191
o.os 0.8976 0.8276 0.7512 0.6716 0.5952 0.05 0.1655 0.1655 0.1655 0. 1623 0.1623
0.06 0.7921 0.7298 D.6609 0. 5871 0. 5143 0. 06 0.1490 0.1487 0.1487 0. 1461 0. 1461
0.07 0.6866 0.6321 0.5707 0.5025 0.4343 0. 07 0.1324 D. 1318 0.1318 0.1299 0.1299
0. 08 0.6111 0.5630 0.5088 0.4480 0. 3877 0.08 0.1159 0.1149 0 .1149 o. 1136 0.1136
0.09 0.5355 0. 4940 0.4470 0.3935 0.3410 0.09 0.0993 0.0980 0.0980 0.0974 0.0974
0.1 0.4600 0 .4 249 0.3852 0.3390 0. 2944 0.1 0.0828 0 .0812 0.0812 0 . 0812 0.0812

il.
For > 0. 1
2rrr

~
.i ( t..i - 0. 1) tjl
2 3 4 s 6 ....ti = +
21Tl"'

2aC~J2
l..i
0 1.0980 1.0980 1.0980 1.0980 1 . 0980 1 oo (2:l.r )2 6.

0.01 1.0823 1. 0823 1.0663 1.0663 1 .0504

where
0.02 1.0345 1.0186 0.9947 0.9629 0.9311 t .t
0 . 03 0.9019 0.8807 0.8541 0.8117 0.7639 X .....:!:.... =
value of -/!-at 2rrr 0.1
t
0 . 04 0. 7242 0.7003 0.6724 0 . 6326 0.5929 1jJ value from following table.
0.05 0.5602 0.5411 0.5220 0. 4934 0.4647
0.06 0.4483 0. 4350 0.4218 0.4005 0.3793
0.07 0.3752 0.3661 0.3547 0.3388 0.3206
0.08 0.3263 0 . 3163 0.3084 0. 2964 D.2805
t2~
12:r-2
2 3 4 5 6
0 . 09 0.2920 0.2847 0.2775 0.2660 0.2525 1l

0.1 0.2578 0.2531 0. 2467 0.2355 0.2244

1o- 4 0.273 0.257 0.235 0. 207 0. 180
10-s 0.159 D. 157 0. 154 0.147 0 .140
i 2 10- 6 ·a. 091 O.D90 O.D9D
-ef for _t_ = 10-6 0.089 0.08 7
!i" 12r2 1o- 7 D.OS1 0. 051 0.051 0.051 0.051

~ 2 J 4 5 6
21Tr NOTE. When determininr. i ef for heavy stiffeners ,
0 1.0980 1.0980 1 .D980 1 .0980 1. 0980 th should be used instead of t 1 .
0.01 1.0663 1. 0504 1 .0504 1. 05(14 1. 0345
0.02 0.8276 0.8196 0.8037 0. 7878 0.7719
0.03 0.5252 0.5199 0.5146 0.5040 0.4934
O.D4 D.3740 0.3700 0. 3661 0.3621 0.3541
0.05 D. 2960 0.2928 0.2897 0.2865 0.28111
0.06 0.2661 0. 2632 D.2604 0.2575 0.2521
0.07 D.2362 0.2336 0.2311 0. 228 5 0. 2241 Table 2 - Eva 1ua ti on of .e.ef
0 . 08 D. 2063 0.2D40 0.2018 0 . 1996 0.1961
0.09 D.1763 0.1744 D. 1725 0. 1706 0.1681
D. 1 0.1464 0.1448 0.1432 0.14 16 0 . 1401
 RECOMMENDATIONS 25.

Knowing p and p , one then calculates A and, as described

y cr
before, p is found from figure 4. 6-9 (or Table U .. Hence, pd should
u
satisfy the requirement that Pa < p .
= u

R 4.6.2.3.2.1 General and r.otation

The stif f ening rings may be either external or inter nal and
they should extend (and be completely attached) * around the full
circumference. Their proportions must be such that local buckling
of the rings does not occur ; also the initial tilt of their webs
must be limited.
The distance between end diaphragms, or "heavy" ring stiffe-
ners which are capable of retaining circularity, is designated as
~ (if diaphragms are used then it is necessary to check that they
themselves do not buckle) • The stiffeners located between the
diaphragms (bulkheads) or heavy stiffeners are termed "light" stif-
feners and the distance between these (assumed to be more-or-less
uniform) is f..f.. •

The notation used for the various dimensions of the stiffe-

ning rings is as shown in figure 4.6-7. In addition :

Ar = area of the stiffener cross-section

I
r
= 2nd moment of area of the stiffener about the axis through
its own centroid and parallel to the cylinder axis
A - +1 for an internal stiffener and -1 for an external one
n = number of complete circumferential waves
= effective length of the shell acting with a light stiffener.
Its value may be estimated from Table 2 [4.6-7]. It depends
on n. The effective length of the shell acting with a heavy
stiffener is also derived from Table 2, replacing .t .e. by .th
and setting n =2 .

In addition to 6 and n (see Eq. (4.6-17)) various other para-

meters have to be calculated. These are :

* Cases where this practice is not followed will be the subject of special
consideration.
26. COMMENTS

C 4.6.2.3.2.2 Overall instability ((b) inC 4.6.2.3) is a buckling

mode which must be avoided in practice. The method adopted herein
to accomplish this objective may be summarized as follows (for an
imperfect stiffened cylinder)

( 1) Calculate ard , the circumferential direct stress in the sti f-

feners, again assuming a perfect stiffened cylinder,
(2) Calculate p , the overall buckling pressure of the perfect
n
ring-stiffened cylinder,
( 3) Assuming an initial out-of-roundness w =a sin ne in the ring
stiffeners, and using small-deflection theory, determine the
bending stresses in the imperfect stiffener,
( 4) Using ( l) , ( 2) and { 3) , determine the maximum total stress
(a) in the ring stiffener, assuming a= 0.005r and
r max
4 4
p = -3 pu (or JPd "see the last. paragraph in R 4.6.2.3.2.2) 1

and
(5) From (4) 1 ensure that (a
r
)
max
<
=
f yr
The above steps (1) to (5) are outlined in more detail below.

The circumferential direct stress in a stiffener is [4.6-9]:

- i) (4.6-26)
A \
+ 2rt)
A first approximation to the overall external buckling pressure
 RECOMME NDATIONS 27.

t2.f...
~
2 + A !' 2 + ,\ (r- r!'[! )J
h = ---------:---.,...,...---- (4.6- 1 9 )
c Ar + tf...ef

or h := h 1 (4.6-20)
2 c

whichever is the larger,

the 2nd moment of ar e a , I, of the cross-section consisting

of the s t iffener and the effective length of the cy-
linder wall :
t3.e.
I = / f + Ar [% + /.. (r - r :r>)] 2 + Ir - (A r + tlef) h ~ (4.6-21)

Er and fyr refer to the ring stiffener material.

R 4.6.2.3.2.2 Design of the stiffening rings

In order to ensure that the initially out-of-round stiffening

rings have adequate strength, the maximum stress (both direct, ard ,
and bending, arb) is not permitted to exceed the yield point of the
stiffener material, i.e.

(4. 6 -2 2)

2 ) ..,..+~-
P r 2 (1 - ~ E h 2
i.e. ___ I.:___ (n -1)0.005p < f (4.6- 23)
r p - p = yr
"t ( t +b +A¥ )
n

and the pressure p is not permitted to exceed the theoretical

overall elastic buckling pressure p of the perfect ring-stiffened
n
cylinder,
i.e. (4.6-23a)

The value of p to be used in Eg. (4. 6-23) and (4.6-23a) is

4
p = 3 pu for cold-formed stiffening rings, and
4
p = 0. 9 3 Pu for fabricated or hot-formed stiffening rings,
where p u is obtained in the manner described in R 'l. 6. 2. 3. 1 • The
pressure pu is multiplied by to account for residual stresses in j
the stiffeners.
The theoretical overall buckling pressure pn may be obtained
from
28. COMMENTS

pn , causing perfectly circular light stiffeners as well as the

associated perfectly circular cylindrical shell to deform to-
gether, between diaphragms or heavy stiffeners, into n circum-
ferential waves is given by the BRYANT formula [4.6-9]
t EI
p = E - w + (n 2 - 1 )_!!__
n 1' 3o
1' "-t

where~ is defined by Eq. (4.6-25).

The initial out-of-roundness in the ring stif f ener is assumed

to have a shape which is similar to one of the overall buckling
-
modes, i.e. w =a sin n e.
An external pressure p then produces elastic radial deflections
p
of the stiffeners of magnitude w = a sinne.

The associ a ted bending stresses in the outstanding flange are

then given by orb

E__
= _r h2 ( dLw)
w+ - - E h2 ·
=~ P_ (n 2 -l)a sinn e •
r2 de 2 r2 Pn P
Substituting a - O.OOSr then permits (orb)max to be found, i.e.

E h
(orb)max = O.OOS(n 2 -1) P ·~ •
Pn -p r

Obviously, p cannot exceed the overall elastic buckling pressure

Pn , i.e. p < p
n

The condition (4.6-22) represents the requirement that the total

stress ord + (orb )max , produced by a pressure p = 34 pu (or
4
3 pd 1 seeR 4.6.2.3.2.2) 1 will not cause the flange to yield.
The values of n to be considered are n ~ 2.

It should also be noted that there is a computer program

available which carries out all the steps in the design of ring-
stiffened cylinders subjected to external pressure. This program
is kno'1n as EXPRESS and is available from the British Standards
Institution [4.6-11]. However, the terminology used is that of
BS 5500.

The values of pn given by the approximate Eq. (4. 6-24) and

those predicted by more accurate theories are compared in Tables
9.5 and 9.9 of [4.6-9] for cylinders with 5 to 100 stiffeners.
For cylinders with few ( 1 , 2 or 3) stiffeners the accuracy of
 RECOMME NDATIONS 29.

(4. 6- 24)

1
where ~ = ------------------~~~---- ( 4.6-25)

[n2- 1 + i (~ )'J[C::)' + 1] '

and is plotted in figure 4.6-ll for n = 2~ 3~ 4~ 5 and 6.

n
--
H

10 ,.....,_
9.0 .......
8.0
"'-r-...
7 .0
6.0 r--.. I I
5.0 ~ ......_ r-.... I
........
~~;I_
i..O
3.5 "'-..
3.0
......_
I'--

..._......__
"' r--.._
......___
~'r-- ,.....,_
K~-1 1'-,.
2.5
~
2.0
1.8
' -........
r-....
"'"' ~~<
r--......___
......_
'
1. 6
........
........
I'-- I !'---.-
'-.....
1-t. ,, "~s ~ "'-....
1. 2
1.0
I) I'<
~6
'-....
I'--

"'-....
j'-...
~
' "'..:.:
"" "
0 .90
o.ao
-........
" ...... .........
'\,
[\
' ""
0-70
0.60
r-......
'-
' " r" "' ."\
I

0 .50 I
........ 1\
1""'-,
0.40
" \ f7
0.3 5
\
0.30
0.2 s
"' 1\1\ [\
r'l
l7 I/ v
v
I

0.2 0 I 7 /
0.18 I v
o .t 6
V JV
O.tt.
I 17 o/
0.12 v [/IJ[/
01
0.09 1/ V.V,:i
0.08
r;,; If'
O.Q7 liJ v
V//

0.06 11.1'
/V
o.os 2 ) " 5 6 7 89 2 J 4 5 6 7 8'7 2 3 " 5 6 7 1!9 2 J 4 56 789
0.00001 0.0001 0.001 0 .01 0.1

FIG. 4.6-ll- Values of tJ! for use wi th Eq. (4 . 6- 2 4)

30. COMMENTS

Eqs. (4.6-23) and (4.6-24 ) is currently under i nvestigation. The

situation for n =2 seems satisfactory but, for n = 3 and 4, the
values of p predicted by Eq. (4.6-24) appear to be too high. Due
n
to several compensating factors, the stiffener stresses given by
Eq. (4.6-23) are, however, in reasonable agreement with a more
accurate analysis. It is hoped to incorporate the resu l ts of
this analysis in the next edition of the recommendations.

C 4.6.2.3.3 The design of the heavy stiffeners follows a similar

procedure to tha t already outlined in C 4.6.2.3.2.2, with the
following modifications
(l) Set the first term in Eq. (4.6-24) to zero (which means the
contribution of the cylindrical shell and the light stiffe-
ners to the overall external buckling pressure is neglected)
3Er>I
and put rz =2 in the same equation. Thus p
n
=- -
y.3.e_h
and the I

here refers to the heavy stiffeners plus associated plating.

(2) Set n = 2 in Eq. (4.6-23) also, with p

n
as given above. The
value of h 2 is that for the heavy stiffeners.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 31.

For cylinders which have a few, widely-spaced stiffeners, some

of the overall collapse pressures, pn. , given by Eq. ( 4. 6-24) may
be too high. However, the stresses predictedbyEq. ( 4.6-23) should
not be seriously in error, providing the stiffener spacing is rea-
sonably uniform. See also remarks inC 4.6.2.3.2.2.

In Eq. ( 4. 6-2 3), the initial out-of -roundness in the ring

stiffener is assumed to be sinuso i dal and equal to 0. 0 0 5 Y' sin n. e.
Stiffeners should be designed so that all the values of (or>)max
corresponding to n ~ 2 in Eqs. ( 4. 6- 23) and (4. 6- 2 4) are equal to
or less than the yield point of the material f . The quantities
yr
I and h 2 depend on .e.ef , which may be estimated with the aid of
Table 2. Like p , they depend on the number of circumferential
n
waves n.

In some cases (e.g. in the chemical industry) both internal

pressure and vacuum conditions have to be considered and, usually,
the internal pressure requirements will determine the thickness of
the cylindrical shell. The design of the stiffening rings to pre-
vent overall buckling during vacuum conditions should be carried
out using Eqs. (4.6-23) and (4. 6 -24) with the value of p given by:
4
p ::::: 3 pd for cold-formed stiffening rings, and
4
p::::: 0.9 j~ for fabricated or hot-formed stiffening rings.

In the above, p d refers to the vacuum or external pressure requi-

rement.

In some shell structures intermediate heavy stiffeners are pro-

vided in addition to the end diaphragms. In such cases the light
stiffeners are designed as described in the preceding section, wi t h
th being the distance between heavy stiffeners.

In addition, the design of the heavy stiffeners should be

checked by the simpli fi ed method described in the next section but
using the appropriate inter-stiffener distance .e.h instead of .e..e. in
the second term of Eq. (4. 6-24). The quantities "h 2 , I , etc.,
should be those for the heavy stiffeners.
32. C 0 M t1 E N T S

C 4.6.3 (4.6-29) reflects DUNKERLY 1 s straight interaction line,

which is believed to be conservative.
34. COMMENTS

See C 4.6.2.1

C 4. 6. 4 The membrane stress in a perfect sphere subject to the

external pressure p is o = P.!:.. and i t equals the yield stress when
2t
p=py =2!f
r' y
The ZOELLY formula [4.6-12] for the critical pressure on a

complete perfect elastic sphere is p C1' = --:===2=E:::;:::::::;-

J
(4)2 .
.L
The
vJ(l- 2 ) \l
abscissa of the points on the lower curve in figure 4.6-9 is the

parameter>.-
- Jl v3(1- \)2)
'r' fv'
t ·E = J r'
0 _605 t
fu'
·E. The or-
Pu r
dinate is The curve was obtained by dividing by y ~ the =
Py
ordinates of a curve representing the lower bound of the results
of many tests on fabricatedhemispheres, spherical caps and tori-
spheres whose shape defects did not exceed the linli ts set in
R 4.6.4 [4.6-13]. y =f is the additional partial safety factor
deemed necessary and thought to be adequate because spherical
shells under external pressure are about a.s imperfection sensitive
as axially loaded cylindrical shells [4.6-14] (cfr. 4.6.1.4)
The coefficient 0.18 in (4.6-33) and (4.6-34) is 3/4 times the
slope of the tangent at the origin of the lower bound curve re-
ferred to above [Fig. 7 in 4.6-13]. When account is taken of the
load factor for variable loads, i.e. y =1.5, the coefficient 0.18
agrees with the corresponding figure of 0.12 in BS 5500 ~.6-7].
 RECOMMENDATIONS 33.

R 4.6.2.4 Simplified Design Method

As indicated earlier, making the assumption that w ~o simpli-

fies the calculations considerably. In that case,

and (4.6-27)

With \ as abscissa, one can quic k ly, from the upper curve in figure
4.6-9 (or from Table 1), determine pu l Py and, thus, pu
As mentioned previously, for I~ 1 (i.e. elastic shell buckling) ,
the simple relation

t
pu =
1
2 Pe r = 2E r 13 min (4.6- 2 8)

holds.

R 4.6.2.4.2 §~~~E~~~~9_£~~9~

In the simplified method, each stiffener is assumed to form

an individual bay in an infinitely-long stiffened cylinder. It
applies to light stiffeners.

Eqs. (4. 6-23) and (4. 6-2 4 ) are again used but with n = 2 in
both of them and~= 0 in Eq. (4.6-24). l l is taken as half the
distance from the centre line of the stiffener to the next line of
support on one side plus half the distance to the next line of
support on the other side.

Stiffeners should be desig ned so that ( ar) in Eq. ( 4. 6- 2 2 )

max
is less than f.yr

R 4.6.3 CIRCULAR CYLINDERS UNDER COMBINED AXIAL LOAD AND EXTERNAL

PRESSURE

The magnitude a of the axial stress which the cylinder will

u
sustain in the absence of external pressure is found from (4.6-2)
or (4. 6 - 3 ) . In this computation , the effect of the stiffening
r in gs is ignored.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 35.

The magnitude p of the external pressure which the cylinder

u
will withstand in the absence of axial load is obtained according
toR 4.6.2.3. The influence of the stiffening rings in increasing
the buckling strength of the cylindrical shell is taken into ac-
count in this calculation. Any limitations imposed by the stiffe-
ning rings should be borne in mind.

If the external pressure and the axial load are acting simul-
taneously, then their design values Pa and ad should satisfy the

condition (4.6-29)

The cylinder must comply with the requirements concerning initial

shape {imperfections) for both axially compressed cylinders and
cylinders subjected to external pressure.

R 4.6.4 UNSTIFFENED SPHERICAL SHELLS UNDER UNIFORM RADIAL PRESSURE

The strength requirement in this case is, once again, that

Pa ~ Pu (4.6-30)

where pu is determined as follows (r is the radius of the spherical

shell and t is its thickness). First, p is calculated from
!f

(4.6-31 )

The buckling pressure p cr of a complete perfect sphere in the

elastic region is found from

= 1. 21 E (~)
2
Pcr " (4.6-32 )

= {P";' is
From ( 4. 6-31) and ( 4. 6-3 2) , the value of "">:
vr;; determined.

Using this value of A as abscissa, the corresponding value of pu /py

is found from the lower curve in figure 4.6-9 or from Table 3.
For elastic buckling of thin spherical shells, i.e. for A ,;, v2,
a simple expression may be used to determine p , the collapse
u
pressure of the imperfect spherical shell. This is

(4. 6-33 )

or, in terms of the parameter X, (4.6- 3 4 )

36. COMMENTS

It might be argued that the additional safety factor y should

be eliminated for very thick spherical shells and that the lower
curve in figure 4. 6-9 should therefore have the ordinate 1 for
A= 0. The ordinate 1/y = 0.75 was adopted for the begi n ning of
the dotted part of the curve because there is little experimental
evidence iri the region o f small A-values.

Because of shape imperfections and of residual stresses

elastic-plastic buckling may alre a dy occur for values of p as
C 2"
low as p /2 , i.e. for values of
y
r as high as 12'.

A designer making a theoretically adequate buckling calcula-

tion for a perfect spherical cap may. find a buckling pressure
that is appreciably lower than the one given by (4.6-32 ) for the
complete sphere. However, that does not affect the va l idity of
the p -values given by the procedure described in R 4.6. 4 [4.6-15
u
and 4.6-16].

It is essential that the circular boundary of a spheric a l c ap

be restrained in the plane of the boundary.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 37.

TABLE 3 - Eva 1uation of p / p for spheres

u y

Pv I Per 0.1538 0.1667 0.1818 0.2000 0.222 0.2500 0.2857

"
A 0.392 0.408 0.426 0.447 0.471 0.500 0.535
pu /py 0.558 0.540 0.520 0.499 0.476 0.450 0.417

Py IPer 0.3333 0.4000 0.5000 0.6667 1.000 2.000

A. 0.577 0.632 0.707 0.816 1.000 1. 414
Pu / py 0.386 0.346 0.294 0.234 0.163 0.090

The value of p for a spherical shell may be calculated as described

u
above provided that the shell sa t isfies the requirements with regard
to initial shape (imperfections). These are that :

1) the distance between any point on the shell and its true centre
should not differ from the mean distance by more than 1 % and
2) the local radius of curvature of any great circle measured on
an arc length of 2. 4 vr:E should not exceed the nomina 1 value by
more than 30% .

Due to difficulties of manufacture and measurement, very thin,

large spheres may find 2) too stringent. In such cases the value
of p /(1.3rJ] 2 where r
should be divided by the factor [r is
u max max
the maximum local radius of curvature (either measured or estimated
conservatively) .
38. COMMENTS

c 4.6.5.1 Only circular cylindrica l shells with long i tudinal

stiffeners and subjected to axial compression and/or bending are
considered in section R 4.6.5.

The methods of analysis given are based on the assumption o f

simply supported edges and on some addi tio nal asswnptions which
will be specified later. If it can be shown that other condi-
tions apply, the analysis of the critical stress (buckling limit)
may be carried out by use of an appropriate theory. Test results
indicate that simple support edge conditions are reasonab l y accu-
rate for prediction of the buckling l oad of shells with "c l amped
experimental" edges if the shells are not too short. For short
shells with fully clamped edges tests give higher buckling l oads.
Boundary conditions similar to simple support apply for i n stance
when a steel shell is bolted to a concrete foundation.

The material of the stiffeners shall be the same as that of the

shell. The stiffeners shall be attached to the cylinder b y con-
tinuous welds.
The ratios of the stiffener-cross section dimensions s h all be
limited as follows :

1. h < O.JSIE I f ' for flat bar stiffeners with

wIt w= y t ~ t.
w-
2. h
wI t w =
< 1.1/E I f ' and bf I tf < 0 . ?IE I f 'for flanged stiffeners.
y = y
These limitations are thought to preclude l ocal buckli n g of
stringers.
The theory of orthotropic shells leading to equatio n ( 4 . 6 -46 )
r e quires that the number of stiffe ners fulfil condition (4 . 6-49 ) .
Equation ( 4. 6-4 6) is , however , a p p ro ximate Zy valid outside this
range (see section C 4.6.5.4.2.1).
 RECOHMENDATIONS 39.

R 4. 6. 5 CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL SHELLS v1ITH LONGITUDINAL STIFFENERS

AND SUBJECTED TO MERIDIONAL COMPRESSION

R 4.6.5.1 Range of applicability

The notations used are defined in

JQ figure 4.6-12. The shell is subjec te d to

~M an axial forc e Q and/or a bending moment
M. The loads shall be distr ibuted to the
! shell - stiffener system such that the
I cross section before buckling of the system
remains plane.
I
/ / / / / / / I1/ / / /
The design value of the extreme meri-
'/

dional acting stress is determined from :

Qd Md
(Jd = 2rrrt8 +
rrr2t s
(4.6-35 )

where
A
s
t
s = t +-
b
(4.6-36)

and where Qd and Md are the axial com-

pressive load and the bending moment pro-
duced by the design loads.

The stiffener properties are charac-

terized by :

A
s
= Cross sectional area of the stiffe-
ner only
EI 8 = Bending stiffness of the stiffener
only about its centroidal axis pa-
rallel to t h e cylinder wall
GC
s
= Torsional stiffness of the stiffene r
on ly (see section C 4.6.5.6)
es = Distance between the shell midsur-
face and the stiffener centroid ,
FIG. 4.6.,-12
positive for outside st i ffeners.
The recorrunendations apply only if the boundary conditions are such
that v :: w =0 along both edges (compare section 4. 6. 1. 1 l .

'!'he validity of the buckling formula (4. 6-46) for orthotropic

cylinders has bee n verified experimentally for a limited range of
the stiffness parameters :
40. COMMENTS

These are not strict limits but use of parameters outside the range
given requires special attention. See section C 4.6.5.4.2.1.

C 4.6.5.2.2 w < 0.0015.f..G is a suitable limitation when the stiffness

of the stringers is high in comparison with the bending stiffness
of the shell. This may be the case when the number of stringers
. As
is small, even ~f bt < 0. 06. On the other hand, when there are many
stringers, they normally have little bending stiffness and the
tolerance limit for an unstiffened shell is more appropriate.

I
\
\

FIG. 4.6-14
42. COMMENTS

C 4.6.5.3 The different modes of instability that may occur are

1. Local instability :

a) Local stringer instability (Fig. 4.6-15.la),

i.e. torsional buckling of a stiffener or
~r-
buckling of a stiffener flange or buckling ;- ...--
of a stiffener web, is to be prevented by r-
l4
~~
heeding section C 4.6.5.1. I

b) Local shell instability, i.e. buckling of ' L

shell panels between stiffener s (Fig. FIG. 4.6-lS. l a
4.6-lS.lb). This type of instability is
denoted by the subschript t.
2. Stiffened panel buckling :

Instability of the stiffened cylindrical

! rr- ~ff )
I f-"
'
panels between rings or bulkheads • The I

(Fig. 4.6-15.2) ~
1-
h ~1 "'
stiffeners participate
'-.\.... _;
The subscript p refers to this type of
buckling. However, in order to avoid con- FIG. 4.6-15.lb
fusion with the factor ap appearing in
R 4.6.1.5.4 the subscript sp is used in
the notation asp for the reduction factor
to be applied to the stress crcr _,p causing
elastic buckling of a perfect stiffened
panel.

3. General instability :

This is a buckling mode in which both strin-

gers and rings participate (Fig. 4.6-15.3).
FIG. 4.6-15.2
Stiffened panel buckling is therefore a
special case of general instability. Since
only stringers are assumed to be present
between the ends of the cylinder here,
general instability is not considered
further in R 4.6.5.

RINGS
STRINGERS

FIG. 4 .6-15.3
 RECOMMENDATIONS 4!.

As
Iii < 2

I
s 15
< (4.6-37)
bt 3
GC
s
bD
< 10 where D =

R 4.6.5.2 Limitation of impe rf ections

The initial imperfections of the shel l panels between stringers

shall not exceed the limits stated in section R 4.6.1.2. The length
.tr of the template used to measure circumferential waviness shall
not exceed 0. 9 5 b. Other-Nise the procedure described in R 4. 6. 1. 2
applies.

The inward or outward lack of straightness of the stiffeners in

the radial direction shall be limited to :
As
i:J ~ 0. 0015tc when bt ~ 0. 06

w~ 0. 0015tc and
-
l.J ~ 0. Oltr> when 0 <
As
lit < 0. 06.

The gauge length tc shall equal either the shell length t or the
critical meridional half wave length as determined from minimizing
A
expression (4.6-46), whichever is smaller. When o%;<0.06, a gauge
of length tr> = 4ht5 ' shall also be used, in the manner shown in figure
4.6-2a.
The limits given for l.J also apply
to the circumferential initial out
of straightness v. v is the lateral
misalignment of the stiffener attach-
ment to the shell (Fig. 4.6-13).

w The initial tilt of the stringer

web and of the stringer flange, as
defined in figure 4.6-14, shall be
limited by
v2
and • /2 < 0 . 008 .
bf =

FIG. 4.6-13
 RECOMMENDATIONS 43 .

R 4.6.5.3 Strength conditions

The stiffened cylindrical shell shall be designed with respect
to local shell buckling and stiffened panel buckling.

Taking imperfection sensitivity into account, the value of the

compressive stress causing local shell buckling is denoted oul and
the value of the stress causing stiffened panel buckling is denoted
aup • oul and oup are evaluated according to sections R 4.6.5.4
and R 4. 6. 5. 5. The design value od of the highest meridional acting
stress shall not exceed the buck l ing stresses oul and oup

ad =
< o up (4. 6-38)
44. COMMENTS

C 4. 6. 5. 4. l.l The shell panels between the stiffeners may be subject

to instability if the stiffener spacing is sufficiently wide. The
buckling stress depends on the curvature of the shell , the t/b
ratio, the torsional stiffness of the stringers, etc.

The stability limit of a perfect circuZca> cyZind.r>icaZ panel. is given

by the theory of complete cylinders and expression ( 4. 6-3 9 ) is
therefore the same as expression (4.6-4).

For pLane pane l s with simply supported edges and .t > b

=
4'1f 2 E ( t 2 t )2 =.3. 6
3. 6 E (b
rt t
r .
0 cr = 12 ( 1 - v2) b) = b2 • E

The assumption of simple support along the stringers is conserva-

tive since i t implies the neglect of the torsional rigidity of
the stringers. The use of formula (4. 6-40) also implies tha t the
post-buckling strength reserve of the supposedly flat panel is
neglected.

In the vicinity of the transition point b = 2 . 44/rt", an accurate

theory yields a slightly higher buckling limit for a curved panel
than equation (4.6-41).

0
!

FIG. 4. 6- 16 -Di ag ram f o r de t ermina ti o n of l ocal shell buc kling s t ress f or

" good " cyl i ndrical panels (W ~ 0. Ol .lr)
 RECOMMENDATIONS 45 .

R 4.6.5.4 Buckling in the elastic range

R 4.6.5.4.1.1 Buckling stress for a perfect panel

.....................................
The elastic critical stress acr_,.t for a perfect shell panel
between stif f eners may be taken equal to the higher of the elastic
critical stresses for a perfect complete cylinder

o o = E ·! = 0. 605 E! (4.6-39)
cr.,-<- /3(1-v 2) r r
and for a perfectly flat plate
a -J.6rt.E!
cr_,.t- b2 r ( .J?_ ~ 2. 44) (4.6- 4 0 )
lr:t
The flat plate of width b and length at least equal to b is assumed
to be simply supported along its perimeter and compressed in the
direction of its length. We may also write

a cr,-<-o = BE -rt (4.6-41)

in which the factor t3 is equal either to 0. 605 or to 3. 6rt/b 2 , whichever

is higher, and is represented by the upper curve in figures 4. 6-16
and 4.6-17.
 46. COMMENTS

ordinates to be multipl ied by Ert

I'"' ' " I ..
~ :.. I :. +· :. I
i I : I ·: I I : I I I I
\£ ...:. .:i . .. :. ~ .....·
: I i I

I : I . .I I.I. . . ~~---~-
!..
:.: .::.:..±j~ ~\I :· . -.- -...-· :. -: :·.:. .;. :· ...:· l·-~-i-~~--- j-···-T--~-~ -·····-:~· -. _ _,__T__
It': I I i I
!
I I ' I I

w.. 1. 0 I ' :. . . ,.:..~ ---:-·~ ....:.._ - I : : ' ~- ·-;··~ ---- -~- - --T········-~- ··- · - ___ :__ - ;- .. _: _ _,__ _

:-··i·()'"8.... , ! .; - -· · ~ ... ~ I
:._: ____:.,;.. ~
~'--- ·
··· ....... ·-~:--
i~
... ;_.
1
~~--~- :·)'·r rit ~ ·..··:: -....;
.
! . '.
··~ . . ···+·· ....;. .. .:.......:. :~ .· ~
·'%-\··i -··-- 1~--- .•• . ~-- -~ 1.-
~l~--
...!
j.,
I. . I
- ··-- ···-·
:· ·-I_: _ ·~ -~--L.:_ ~-
~ i .. I : i ' .. i ; I
L :· __....: _L_:____ __ ······-~- __ :__ . .... ·+ .
·. .;,; ·_,·\ · ;,· · · ·.: ·~ ·-!--·-~- . · -~·· · ···! . l ·· ·~ ·! · I
•· ; '

~]""a :6~ ~:_Lrl··: I·· :·+ ·

I ,. ·: ... _.
+ J. ·;·· ··' f. :.. . '· ·... .
1

-~:~-. :.~ . ~~- :~···~~ . ;..~' ;: · :-:··;. t\ :_ ~- r ..... ·:::.:·:1:_::; :···::::. c..j. I ! . --~-~- :_~L.Li~ ---::jl__ :_~ _jj . . ·._ --
1.7t.0 .L, I .,. .:·Q83 f3 I·' !: \ \ . .,,...... ··!.. .~::-:-: ...,......:···· . ·! .... ...,.......
' r r-::-7\.~ .r ·. r . • ··· : •• : ·: I
r It
! . : . • . :

~~ ~'~- .-·. :. .l. . .h ·. .

r---·----~-~--:--~-.-
·~: ::.;~ 1 "< ~- ~~~:t ': ..j: ... ...3 ·;
;:'·I : :.. ··
· !---:'-- ~=,. . . --~/'> i___ ·+. ~ IJI:
·: ·I·+·' -:
"":i· 1 '
-~--.. ..
i .,. . .. 20 -1- · : .....
100
t . :.-. -i .. ...: .. ... , : ..
I .: 0.2- . . . "':,,, . .
!
;. . .:.t.,.,:... ~
: !·_, 0._1 ":--"'< . : ..
1
!.....
:! ·,1 .4 J 2 1.. ,

-
' .. ,

_! . '...
.. ! :
!.... ,;_
.-, .. .
:
I .
>. --- . ~-
:
: 200 , .

llW
tT
:' , -:.. · , · : •

: ""·> : ; ;' ..::L" Ill: .':~~;:. 1 :::!:" I:.:. I<ITD ..>~ :. ~ : I I : I. . .• . I : r- ~ L.OO ~- :~~
.. :· - :.:\:- ·-:i -~~ ·~ :::t:· .:. /:t-:+ ~ ~;:[.: .. ,.,:::'.: :<?1
/ H:C,.£ ::::!':-: Ci·: -j": I: I""· i I I :1~gg :. '·::
' . '
~--~~- ·:.:~ :.:, 1· :.. ,, :: : , ..:. 2' ·,.,_ , ....3· :.: ... ,,..,.:·L.' ·'!.,:.,.,::!.
_._, J...:ij __:__t:__~ .- .. ,_ ., . · i .. •. .. : '· , , .
5' .],:,.,.) 5' .\ . ,.::1 .. 7' : ··i·"·l= -s' .:l· .. , ,:. g\ ·: .. I. ..!.10Tbirrr :
..:''' · ·-~:J ::..:. . .. + ·' . '· , .· I· ,, . __,,_,,_ w ~~ "~ . . ·-· ·-
-= . .:
1

-FIG. 4. 6-l 7 - Diagram for determination of local shell buckling stress for
"poor" cylindrical panels (W = 0.02.ir)

c 4.6.5.4.1.2.

A cylindrical panel (b/ liT > 2.44 ) is imperfection sensitive,

while a supposedly plane pane 1 (bj/Ft < 2. 44) is not. In t he transi-
tion zone, the imperfection sens i ti vi ty gradu ally decreases with
increasing radius of curvature.

The reduction factor n.e_ = 0 . 83 for flat panel buck l ing is

borrowed from section C 2.2 of [4.6-19].
 RECOMHENDATIONS 4 7.

R 4.6.5.4.1.2 Buckling stress for an imperfect panel

The critical stress determined from equation ( 4. 6-41) is de-

creased, for an Dmperfect panel, to alocr,l by the reduction factor
y
at and by the partial safety factor ai accounts for the imper-
y.
fections and y accounts for the imperfection sensitivity.

For cylindrical. panels al =a 0 and y =4/3. a0 is given by equations

(4.6-7) for panels (w ~ o. Ollr) • The value given by (4.6-?)
"good"
has to be halved for 11 poor" panels ( w= 0. 02ll" ) and a 0 is obtained
by linear interpolation for intermediate values of w. No increase
in a f. is allowed for a stiffened cylinder subjected to a bending
moment.

For pZ.ane panels a.e_ = 0.83 and y = 1.0.

Thus, two design values of the elastic local shell buckling
stress are obtained for an imperfect panel
for cylindrical panel buckling
a o
- ..e. cr, .e. = ~ a x 0 605 E! (4. 6-42)
autl - y 4 o · r
and for flat plate buckling

0.83 x 3.6 E (%)2 (4.6-43)

 RECOMMENDATIONS 49.

The design value-s ou.tl and ou.t2 are obtained also by multiplying Et/:r
respectively by the ordinate of the horizontal line corresponding
with the appropriate r/t ratio and by the ordinate of the 0.83 13-curve
in figure 4.6-16 or in figure 4.6-17. The former diagram is appli-
cable for 11
good" panels {w ~ 0. Oll:r) and the latter is applicable for
"poor" panels ( iJ = 0. 02l ) • Linear interpolation is allowed in the
Y'
intermediate range of w/t Y' values. iJ is the highest imperfection
of the shell panels, as defined in R 4.6.5.2.1.

Without the partial safety factor y the elastic critical stress

for an imperfect panel is the higher of the two stresses

a o
l c:r~t
= o: o x0.605E-rt (4.6-44}

and n_e_o CY' ~.e. =0. 8 3 X 3. 6 E ( -5-)

2
(4.6-45)

If neither of the expressions (4. 6-44) and (4. 6-45) exceeds

0. Sfy , the final design value oul of the local shell buckling stress
to be used when checking whether the first strength condition (4.6-38)
is satisfied is the higher of the stresses ou..U and ou.e_2 • If either
of the expressions ( 4. 6-4 4) and ( 4. 6-4 5) exceeds 0. Sf , one must
y
proceed as explained in R 4.6.5.5.1.
 50. COMMENTS

c 4.6.5.4.2.1

E
I{!
= Et
1- \12
(be) + EA s
b b
; ; E
e
= Et
1- v2
(.te)
.e.
+ EAr
T

= Gl{!6 =2Gt (be

b +
fe)
T (4.6-4 7 )

c<(J .J

Equations ( 4. 6-4 6) and ( 4 . 6 -4 ?) are valid for the case o f general

instability. The expressions (4.6-48) for stiffened panel buckling
are obtained through setting .e.e =.e. and letting terms containing
the ring section properties Ar , Ir , Cr and er equal z ero. Those
terms are underlined in the equations ( 4. 6 -4 ? ).

Equation (4. 6-46) has been verifie d experimentally for the range
of parameters given in section R 4.6.5.1, more thoroughly in some
parts of that range than in other parts. When stiffnesses are
outside that range the recommendations are hardly supported or not
at all supported by experimental evidence. Equation (4. 6 - 46 ) may
be used for n=2 or 3 but it must be noted that the result then
may contain an error of the order of 20-25 percent on the unsafe
side. For shells with widely spaced or very heavy stiffeners i t
may be necessary to calculate the buckling stress by use of the
simplifi e d procedure give n in R 4. 6. 5. 4. 2. 3 or by use of a compre-
hensive computer analysis.

The torsional stiffness GC5 of t h e stringers has a mar k ed in-

flu e nce on the theoretical buckling l oad. The d eterminat i on o f th e
 RECOMMENDATIONS 5].

R 4.6.5.4.2 §E~ff~~~9_E~~~±-~~~~1~~g
(as a special case of general instability)

R 4.6.5.4.2.1 ................................................
Buckling stress for a perfect stiffened cylinder

The general theory of orthotropic ring and stringer stiffened

cylinders yields the following expression for the elastic stability
limit of a perfect stiffened cylindrical shell based on the assump-
tions of section R 4.6.5.1 [4.6-20]

( 4. 6-46)

where the quantities A 11 I A 12 I A 13 1 A 22 1 A 23 and A 33 are defined by

the equations ,( 4. 6-4?). For a stringer stiffened shell the equations
~.6-4?) may be simplified into the equations (4.6-48)
(see C 4.6.5.4.2.1).

A 11 = E,,(!!!;_)2
.,.. ..{.. + G'{J9 ~
(n )2 ;

A12 = (E\OB+G<Pe)(ml)(;) ; A23 =E:(;) ; A

13
=E\0r e (m'~~")
.t
+c<P (m; /
Et (be) + EA s
E = l-v2 ; EI{J6 =1-vEt\)2 ... Ee --
Et
(4.6-48 )
b b
"' 1 - v2

Et 3
D..p = De = -1-2_(l___
v_2_J

D
<PS
= vEt 3
6(1-v2)
+ Gt6 3 (1 + be)
b
+ GCs
b
;

When the critical stress ac is being calculated the half wave

r .. l?
number in longitudinal direction m and the full wave number in cir-
curnferential direction n must be chosen to minimize expression
(4. 6-46). n =1 does not represent shell buck li ng, but buckling of
the stiffened cylinder as a colur,1n, and the cas •·~ n=2 and n=3 are
commented on in C 4. 6. 5. 4. 2.1. m and n are inte gers, but i t is safe
to allow decimal values for m and n in the minimizing process. The
5:2.. COMMENTS

torsional constant C8 is briefly discussed in section C 4. 6. 5. 6.

Use of C 5 =0 is always safe.

In many practical applications, condition (4.6-49) is not ful-

filled and equation (4.6-46) should then be used with circumspec-
tion. Comparisons with experiments have shown that i t yields safe
results even for values of n 8 well below the limit given by
(4. 6- 4 9) [4.6-21]. A safe design will always result from use of
the simplified method given in R 4.6.5.4.2.3.

The concept of an effective width was

developed within the theory of buckling of
N~Ncr
plane panels. Because the stringers are
N >Ncr
O'max normally spaced rather closely, only the
r'-7'7"7'-7'<7"~~~'7'-71 N ~ Ncr
influence of local shell buckling and of
yielding on the effective width is consid-
ered in (4.6-50). Plane or curved panels
exhibit post-buckling load carrying capa-
b city. The stress distribution becomes non-
linear when the load exceeds the buckling
limit. Various investigators have propo-
sed methods for analysis of the postbuckling
O'max
strength. The most common is to substitute
an idealized stress distribution for the

I ~ I corresponding actual one such that the maximum stress

~~lith stress and the average stress are conserved. Thus
distribution 2
the stresses ama:c are the same and the
FIG. 4.6-18 hatched areas are equal in the two parts
of figure 4.6-18.

The lower limit 1. 9t VJy' in ( 4. 6-5 0) was originated by von KARMAN.

The stiffened panel buckling stress a

cr,p is evaluated by means
of the following procedure.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 53 .

r o. sulting critical stress is valid only if t h e stringers are spaced

s ~..- closely that
n :;;, 3. 5 n ( 4 . 6-49)
s

where n 8 is the number of stiffeners and n is the number minimizing

expression (4.6-46).

Equation (4.6-46) may be used to estimate the stiffened panel

buckling stress also in the case when local shell buckling precipi-
tates stiffened panel buckling (or general instability). The effec-
tive width be appearing in (4.6-47) and (4.6-48) is given by

CJ. ocr
= b <- cr .. .e. < b ( 4.6-50 )
0
cr_,p =

Since be depends on the current stress level, the stiffened panel

buckling stress a cr_,p must be determined through iteration by means
of the procedure given in the comments. The value of aocr <- cr_,<-o to be
used in (4.6-50) is given by either ( 4 .6-4 4 ) or (4.6-45), whichever
is higher. If b < 1. 9t ~~' , he should be set equal to b .
54. COMMENTS

Set be =b J

~Calculate • acY'.,p by minimizing expression (4. 6-46) j

t
Calculate a new value of be from ( 4. 6-50} using the
ocY', p just obtained

~Is the new value of be equal t o the prev ious e stimate ?J

No
Yes

The solution has converged J

Approximate design charts

Figures 4. 6-19a and 4. 6-19b are approximate design diagrams for

cylinders with flat stiffeners. acr.,p was evaluated by means of
equation (4.6-46} and of the iterative procedure described above,
with consideration of the effective width given by (4.6-5 0}. o
cr.,c
is the buckling stress, given by (4. 6-4} , for the perfect cylinder
with the same radius and thickness , but without stiffeners.
Figures 4. 6-l9a and 4. 6-19b are intended mainly for preliminary
sizing. On the strength of many sample calculations the diagrams
appear to be safe within the intervals shmm in them. Thus the
designer might content himself with the
cr.,p value derived from a

the design charts. It is, however, preferable and may turn out to
be more economical to carry out a better calculation using the full
procedure described above, after the dimensions of the stiffened
cylinder have been chosen tentatively with the help of the charts.

Figures 4.6-l9a and 4.6-l9b, devisedfor cylinders with outside

stiffeners and inside s t iffeners respectively, allow preliminary
sizing of cylinders with flat bar stiffeners of aspect ratios
hw I tw =5 or 10. Certain properties of the result, obtained by
means of equation ( 4. 6-4 6) _and nondimensionalized by use of equation
(4.6-4), make the presentation fairly simple.

A- The relevant notations are collected in part A of each figure.

B- The circumferential buckling wave number n was found to be

nearly independent of the stiffening and to vary with .f../ r> and
r>/t only. Thus, part B of the figure may be used directly to
determine the number of stiffeners n ~ required to comply with
"'
condition (4.6 - 49).
56. COMMENTS

c- The dependence of the nondimensionalized critical stress

a a
acr,p = ___E!2_E =
ocr c cr,p
O.SOSEt/r on the sti
ff ening ratio A I ( bt) is given
8
.>
in part C of the diagram for different numbers of stiffeners n
s
and for the two stiffener configurations. Part C allows acr,p
to be evaluated for a stiffened cylinder of length/radius ratio
equal to .f../r = 1. 0. The analysis under lying part C includes
the effect of local buckling of the panels between stiffeners
(equation 4. 6-50), whiGh explains why some of the values are
lower than unity. It should be noted, moreover, that the load
carrying capacity of the perfect stiffened cylinder under axial
compression is obtained through multiplication of acr,p by the
total area (A 8 + bt)n 8 •

_ 0 cr,p(f./r)
D- The ratio y of nondimensionalized stresses depends
0 cr,prt/r=1)

moderately on the stiffening ratio. Part D of the diagram re-

presents the minimum values for the ...configurations studied.
These are in fairly close agreement with exact values in the
neighbourhood of t/r = 1. For small or large values of .t/r the
discrepancy may be of the order of 10-20 procent for high values
of hwltw and for low values of n 8

The diagrams are valid in the ranges of .t/r and r/t shown in
them. In those ranges m = 1 minimizes acr.,p. The designer should
not extrapolate outside the ranges shown.
 COMMENTS
58 ,_~_ _2r_ _------'-1
I
~

I
I
i
I
A- Dimensions
.!__r-
1
a
a
cr~p
=0.605Et/r
cr~p B- Buckling wave number n as a function of r/t
and f./r (with m = 1). n 5 ~ 3. 5n required

(J
cr,p
8

and number of stiffeners n 5

a
Y = _..:c:...:.r~~~p.. (:. . ....::
f..l :._r:....:):..___
acr~pr Ur = lJ

D- Effect of f../r for different

stiffening ratios A5 /(bt)
with the value for f../r= 1.0
as reference

FIG. 4.6- l9 a Chart for preliminary s~zing of cylinders with outside f la t

bar stiffeners
60. COMMENTS

Zr

0
cr,p
0
cr,p =0.605Et/ r

A- Dimensions

B- The buckling wave number n is obta ined

from the di agram for outside stiffe ners
(figure 4.6-19a)

c- Nondimensional buckling stress as a function of stiffening ratio A 8 /(bt)

and number of stiffeners n 8

I •
Y =__0_c_r~~~D_(£/~r~)--
0cr~p( .f../r =1)
~, _.__._. ·:__
__ ' 1::: :::::,-,:::,:;:1 ::::: ~ : 1 : ': :: : : :: 1::::
-- ·· .· T!. ·..· :··, -~;: ! : ;: ,~ - . I . .
- ~· - - -- · .....
·'·:;::
..... 1.i .::::'
. .. . . . . ..... . .. _ ·· -· · · · · . •• • ••• • -- · - · -
~ : :~
·· · --

! 1.'o __' ~:j'; i ! i' 1 ;; i':': , ':',' :.:~:. . :~1:~~

D- Effect of ~/r for different
: --'~-- --'·-:-1-'-L \::JH.:·~-- ,- H ~'':.i,j[:::,l~=_t='·l''":··:· t--::::::;!::., ... ..-~:~:;[~
0+-~------------~--~----~--~-+~ stiffening ratios As/ (bt)
,.
I
0 .:: .. j: -~ .. j.. ... 1,0 >= ·j---/, l/r::d ':..i:-):...~~ 2.0-f;~ with the value tor .f../ r ~ 1. 0
• I ! • .: l . . ; .: ; . ": j ; !. ,,__ L...I..::~- as reference

FIG. 4.6-l9b Chart tor preliminary si z ing of cylinders with i nside flat
bar stiffeners
6L. COMMENTS

Example of the use of the figures 4.6-19

o is to be evaluated for a mild steel cylinder having the

cr.,p
following characteristics

rlt := 1 000
i...jr =1. 6
n5 =n 5 (min)., outside stiffening
E := 205 000 Nlmm 2 and fy = 240 Nlmm 2
As I (bt) =0. 5 ., hw I tw =10
Part B of figure 4.6-l9a indicates that n = 13 and that n
s =45 is
required in order for (4.6-49) to hold.
Part C is used to obtain crcr,p = 2. 5 , valid for a cylinder with
l / r = 1.0.
Part D gives the reduction due to the length : y = 0. 6.
Thus crcr.,p = -
y x-
ocr.,p x acr., c =0. 6 x 2. 5 (0. 605 x 205 000 x 1000
1) = 186 Nj mm 2 •
For the cylinder with the geometry defined above the full iterative
procedure, including the effective width b according to (4.6-5 0) ,
e
yields crcr.,p = 202N/mm 2 • Expression (4. 6-46) is minimized by m =1,
n = 11, and the final value of be is b e = 0.4b, which in this case
is von KARMAN's lower bound given by (4.6-50).

C 4. 6. 5. 4. 2. 2 Imperfections have less influence on the buckling load

of stiffened cylinders than on that of unstiffened cylinders.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 63.

R 4.6.5.4.2.2 Buckling stress for an imperfect stiffened cylinder

The design value aup of the stiffened panel buckling stress

for an imperfect stiffened cylinder is obtained from :
a.
0
sp 0 cr_,p (4.6-51)
up y

y =4/3 • The reduction factor a.

sp is
As
a.
sp
= 0. 65 when - > 0. 2 ..
bt
(4.6-52)
As r
a
sp when bt < 0. 06 and also when t < 60.

et 0 is the reduction factor for the cylinder of radius rand thickness

t, without its stiffeners ; it is given by (4.6-?). Linear interpo-
A
lation is used in the intermediate range of ~ values.

The value of o up to be used when checking whether the s econd

condition (4.6-38) is satisfied, is given by (4.6-51), provided that
equation (4.6-56) must be
a. o
sp cr_,p =< O.St;y If a 5 pocY'_,p > O.Sfy ,
used instead of (4.6-51).
 COMMENTS

C 4.6.5.4.2.3 In formula (4.6-53) the radial support provided to

the stringers by the circumferential forces in the cylinder is
neglected. The formula is, therefore, in most (not in all) cases
conservative in comparison with equation (4.6-46).
Note that the simplified procedure does not require iteration.

In the case of stiffening which is symmetric with respect to

the shell midsurface, it is suggested to use the lower value of~.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 65.

R 4.6.5.4.2.3 Simplified stiffened panel buckling analy sis

............... - ............................ .

1. 9t I:-y. Under the assumption of simple support

boundary conditions and an f./r ratio such
that the stiffeners buckle in one half wave
along the shell length, the critical stress
may be estimated from
n 2 EI
a
simM ~
"'~
sef
= ~----~-- + a ~
E t
b cr_,p ,t2(bt +As) o /3(1- v2J . r
(4. 6-53)

In equation ( 4. 6-53)
FIG. 4. 6-20
- Isef is the second moment of area of the
shell-stiffener syster.1 evaluated at the centroid of the combined
section of stringer and shell panel ; the effective width b 6 of
the shell panel, which is assumed to be a flat plate in the evalua-
tion of ~ef , is taken either equal to the full stiffener spacing
b or to 1. 9t / [ , whichever is smaller (Fig. 4. 6-2 0) .
y
the coefficient 1J1 accounts for the difference in load carrying
capacity of cylinders with inside and outside stiffeners respecti-
vely :
'P =1 for outside stiffeners,
1
'P = As
for inside stiffeners.
1
+FE
As
- a 0 is given by ( 4. 6-7), into which the wall thickness t 8 = t + b
of the cylinder with smeared out stiffeners is introduced instead
of t ; hence a0 does not have the same numerical value as the a 0
appearing in (4.6-52).

The approximate design value a of the buckling stress is then

up
_ simpl
given by cup aspacr,p in which the value of o. sp defined by
(4.6- 52 ) may be used (and in which y has been assumed equal to 1).
If, however, a sp cr 0 •,
~
simpl
turns out to be greater than 0 . Sf y , aup must
p
be evaluated by means of equation (4.6-57).
When this simplified stiffened panel buckling analysis is used,
the local shell buckling check has to be conducted in the ordinary
manner, ouR. being evaluated as described inR 4.6.5.4.1 and R4.6.5.5.1,
and both conditions (4.6-38) must be fulfilled.
66. COMMENTS

C 4. 6. 5. 5. l The plasticity reduction formula ( 4. 6-5 4 J is the same

as formula ( 4. 6-3 J • The coefficient 0. 4123 and the exponent a.. 6 in
(4.6-54) both depend on the numerical value of the partial safety
factor y, which is 4/3 for cylindrical panel buckling. However,
y =1 for plane panel buckling and the coefficient and the exponent
are therefore replaced respectively by 0.25 and by 1 in (4.6-55),
in order to achieve the same degree of continuity of the design
buckling stress crul 2 as in the case of unstiffened cylinders (see
C 4.6.1.4) and as in the case of cylindrical panel buckling : not
only the design buckling stress itself, but also its derivative

with respect to the "slenderness parameter" .rr

v....::.Jj_ (in the case of

unstiffened cylinder buckling) or ·~ (:~c:he case of local

v~
shell buckling) is continuous at the transition between elastic
buckling and elastic-plastic buckling.

C 4.6.5.5.2 The influence of yield of the material on the buckling

behaviour of structures may be estimated in different ways. The
simple reduction formula ( 4. 6-5 6 J is recorrunended in the present
rules, taking iato consideration the yield limit of the material,
the elastic buckling stress of the stiffened shell and the partial
safety factor y = 4/3 which accounts for the imperfection sensiti-
vity. In general the formula provides conservative results for
stringer stiffened cylinders.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 67.

R 4.6.5.5 Buckling in the elastic-plastic range

Elastic-plastic buckling behaviour of the stiffened shell shall

be considered if
either a0a ")'1 0 >0.5[ where a ocr o is the higher of the values
"-c.~,{.. Y .-!... C.r'_,"-
given by (4. 6-44) and (4. 6- 45 ) 1
or 0. 5 f , where is the elastic stif fe ned panel
et
sp a cr, p >
y
a ...,
c~,p

buckling stress calculated from equation

(4.6-46), used repeatedly,
simp l simv l
or a o > 0 5f where a '" is calculated from e quation
sp cr~p · y ' cr,p
(4.6-53).

When either of the reduced elastic buckling stresses a,e.ocr, £..

given by (4.6-44) for cylindrical panel buckling and by (4.6-45) for
flat panel buckling exceeds O.Sfy, the design value aull or ou£. 2 of
the corresponding buckling stress is given by one of the formulas
(4. 6-54) and (4. 6-55), instead of the corresponding equation (4. 6-42)
or (4. 6-43) :

t
0
ull = f y [1- o. 4123 ( fM
alcr cr, l
)'"'] if a cr
£.. cr,l
::::: 0.605a E-
o r
> O.Sf
y
(4.6-54)

ou£2 =f ~- 0. 25 fy ) if atcr cr, l = o.83 x 3.6E(tt ~

b > o.~fy (4.6-55)
Y · a£..0 cr,l

The final design value auf of the local shell buckling stress
to be used when checking whether the first condition (4. 6-38) is
satisfied, is equal to crull or to ou£. 2 , whichever is higher. aull
is obtained from (4. 6-42) or from (4. 6-54), and cr U.(.u
o9. is obtained from
(4.6-43) or from (4.6-55), in both casesdependingon whether the
corresponding stress a 0 o o does not or does exceed 0. Sf .
,<.. C~"- y

The design value aup of the stiffened panel buckling stress to

be used when checking whether the second strength condition (4.6-38)
is satisfied, may be estimated by means of the formula

a
up
= f
Y
[1 - 0.4123 (a :ysp cr,p
)O.GJ if a a
sp cr,p
> O.Sf
y
(4.6-56)

where c is obtained by i tera ti ve application of equation ( 4. 6-46 ) .

cr,p
68. COMMENTS

When the simplified stiffened panel buckling analysis described

in R 4.6.5.4.2.3 is used, theplasticityreductionformula (4.6-5?)
to be applied has the same structure as equation ( 4.6-55), because
y is set equal to 1 in R 4.6.5.4.2.3.

A more rational criterion for the determination of the stiffened

panel buckling stress in the elastic-plastic range might be based
on the assumption that yielding in the stiffener outstand causes
failure of the shel l structure.

C 4. 6. 5. 6. The torsional constant C8 of the stringer to be used in

( 4. 6-4?) and ( 4. 6-48) may be determined from the following formula
for open sections consisting of n flat strips (Fig. 4.6-21)
n
cs -~. 3
l . E b.1--z-
t~
1
".:::
The torsional stiffness of open sections is treated more thoroughly
in reference [_4. 6-22] .
GC
For high values of the relative stiffness 5; , use of the full
torsional stiffness GC8 of the stringers may lead to an unconser-
vative estimate of the buckling stress. This fact is due to local
deformations in the shell panels. It is unimportant for open sec-
tions, but i t is of particular importance if closed section pro-
files are used as stiffeners, in which case a reduced torsional
stiffness must be introduced into the calculation of a cr .. p • A
more detailed discussion of the choice of an appropriate torsional
stiffness may be found in reference [ 4.6-23].
 RECOMMENDATIONS 69.

When, however, t h e simplified stiffened panel bu ckl i ng analysis

(R 4.6.5.4.2.3) and formula (4. 6 -53) have been used t o eva luate
simpl
0 c 1' J p '
0 may be estimated by means of the equation
up

cr
up
;;: f G- 0. 25
Y\ a.
fy. z)
0 s~mp
if a. crsimp l
sp Ci"~P
> 0. Sf
y
( 4. 6-5?)
sp c:r~p

R 4.6.5.6 Torsional stiffness of stringers

FIG. 4.6-21
70. COMMENTS

C 4. 6. 8. l. 1 The recommendations may also be applied to vessels in

the shape of other shells of revolution, for instance in the shape
of a sphere or a torus, provided that

FIG. 4.6-36

- the meridian is everywhere either straight or concave towards

the axis of revolution (Fig. 4.6-36),
- the angle e between the axis and the tangent at the Z01uer end of
the meridian is less than 65°,
- the meridian does not contain any kinks close to the supported
lower edge.
The rules do not
apply when the
meridian has one

I of the shapes
--1-- shown in figure
FIG. 4. 6-37
4.6-37.

In the case of a curved meridian the value of e to be introduced

into the equations appearing in the following conunents and in
section R 4.6.8 relates to the lower edge of the shell.
The value o d of the acting membrane stress to be used when
checking whether the strength condition ( 4. 6-81) is satisfied is
determined by the equation

= ( 4. 6-80)

where F 1 = total weight of the liquid outside the fictitious ver-

tical cylinder of radius ~, i.e. the liquid within the
torus whose cross-section is the hatched area in figure
4 .6 -36,
F2 = total weight of the shell above the supported edge of
radius ~,
 RECOMMENDATIONS 7I ~

R 4.6.8 LIQUID-FILLED, CONICAL SHELLS

R 4.6.8.1 Range of applicability

The axis of the cone is vertical

(Fig. 4.6-35) . The conica l shell con-
tains a liquid of specific weighty'. Its
thickness t is constant. The upper edge
of the cone is completely free. The lower
edge is simply supported or partially
clamped or fully clamped, i.e. : its cir-
cularity is maintained during buckling,
but the edge of the cone may either rotate
freely or may be prevented from rotating
around the tangent to the base circle.
FIG. 4.6-35
72. COMMENTS

F 3 = total weight of whatever rests on the upper rim of the

shell,
all these loads being taken with their design (factored) value.
This equation applies whether the meridian of the shell is straight
or curved. F 1 or F 2 is given by one of the following expressions
for the simplest types of shells of revolution (y' and g must be
taken with their factored value)
F1 = n(r + gtgB)r'h tgB
2 for a conical shell (Fig. 4.6-35) loaded only
by its liquid content
F2 = n ( 2r + h1 tgs) g a: ; B for a conical shell (Fig. 4. 6-35) loaded only
by its own weight (g is its weight per unit
area of shell wall)
F1 = lTy'h'tgB[h'(r + h3' tga) + (h-h')(2r+h'tge)] for a shell consisting
of a cone and a cylinder (Fig. 4. 6-38) and
loaded only by its liquid content
Fl J
= ny 1 h:r' [r + r3' (aoss,- aoss) (case I - coss) +
+ 2ny'r'2[(r-r'coss)(6-sinocoscS) + fr'sin 3 ocos(s-o)J

for a toroidal shell (Fig. 4.6-39) whose

meridian is a circular arc of radius r' and
which is loaded only by its liquid content;
its geometry and the level of the liquid are
determined by the parameters r 1 S 1 r' and h,
from which 8' and 5 are derived by means of
the equations sinS' =sins
- ..!!..,
r
and 25 = B- e' ;
a spherical shell is a special case in which
r'cosB = r.

-=;= y'

FIG. 4.6-38

FIG. 4.6-39
74. COMMENTS

C 4.6.8.1.1.1 The recommendations may be applied when m = 0 along

X
the supported edge (see Fig. 4.6-1), but also when that edge is
partially or fully clamped.

C 4.6.8.1.1.3 The recommendations do not apply when a heavy super-

structure rests on the upper edge of the cone, because in that case
- the meridional compressive stresses decrease more slowly when
one moves upwards from the supported edge than in the case of a
cone whose predominant load is the liquid content ,
- the ratio of the stabilizing normal pressures exerted by the
liquid to the meridional compressive stresses in the shell in
the vicinity of its supported edge is lower than in the case of
a predominant liquid load.

When a heavy roof or another heavy superstructure has to be carried,

i t should not be supported by the conical shell if the present re-
commendations are to be applied.

C 4. 6. 8. 1. 2 Checking the imperfections is especially important in

the part of the cone adjoining the supported edge, say in a region
of width 20/rt I eosB ', measured along the genera trices. The i mper-
fections elsewhere are not immaterial, but they are not predominant.

If the initial shape of the horizontal cross-sections of the

vessel is not very close to circular, the liquid load has a tendency
to make them more circular and this may lead to a less uniform
distribution of the compressive meridional stresses along the
supported edge of the cone, to premature local buckling and to
premature general collapse. Any horizontal cross-section of the
shell should be circular to within 0. 5 % of the radius measured
from the true centre of the cross-section.

Wherever the shell is not nominally conical, the imperfections

w should be measured inwards from templates of length .e.r = 3. 6/rt/c:oss'
having the exact nominal shape of the meridian in the interva 1
covered by the template.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 75.

The recommendations apply only if all the following conditions

are fulfilled

R 4. 6. 8. 1 .1. 1 The boundary conditions along the lower edge are such
that u ~v ~w =0 {see Fig. 4.6-1).

R 4.6.8.1.1.2 B < 65°.

R 4. 6. 8. 1. 1. 3 At least 8 0 % of the meridional compressive stress

crd , defined below, should be due to F 1 in equa t ion
(4. 6-80).

R 4.6.8.1.1.4 The length of the generatrices of the cone should be

at least equal to 20/rt I cosB 1 •

The amplitudes of the imperfection are measured inwards from a

straight rod held anywhere against any meridian (Fig. 4.6-2a). The
length of the rod is .t
r
=
.3. elrt/coss '. The recommendations apply only
when the largest measured inward amplitude ~ does not exceed .Q.02.t •
r
76. COMMENTS

C 4.6.8.2.1 Combination oftheformulas (4.6-8 3 )~ (4.6-84)_, (4.6-85) and

(4.6-86) leads to the equations

y'r 2
cru, = 3690ow-1. 686 tsinB 1 va l i d when w
=< 0. OOBt
!'
( 4. 6-8 9)

cr~ = v76500w-l.710 y'r2

tsL-nS , va l'd
~ when ( 4. 6-90)

cr'tsinB
u
Equations (4. 6-89) and (4. 6-90) give values of
1 2 which have
Yr
a 99 % probability of being surpassed by experimental values.
They very nearly represent lower bounds of experimental buckling
stresses obtained from many hundreds of tests on simply supported
conical models made of four different rna ter ials. For a few test
cones w reached values of up to 4000. Equations (4. 6-85) 1 (4. 6-86) 1

(4. 6-89) and (4. 6-90) should not be used for w < 35. Equations
(4. 6-89) and (4. 6-90) were derived from a somewhat larger nwnber
of tests than those mentioned in [4.6-24] and [4.6-25].

As shown · in [4. 6-24] 1 y = 1.1 is about equal to the ratio of the

width of the scatter of experimental results for the present type
of shell and loading to the width of the scatter for externally
pressurized cylinders. The partial safety factor is lower than
the factor y = 4/3 appearing in R 4. 6. 1. 4 and in C 4. 6. 4 because
liquid-filled cones are less imperfection sensitive than axially
loaded cylinders and than radially pressurized spheres.

Limitation (4.6-88) is introduced because the test models des-

cribed in [4. 6-24] buckled primarily elastically :at failure, the
meridional membrane stress at the base of the test cones amounted
to not more than half the yield stress fy •

For a vessel with a curved meridian, as described in C 4. 6. 8. 1. 1

and shown in fi gure 4. 6-36, au is evaluated by means of the same
formulas ( 4. 6-8 2 J to ( 4. 6-8 7) . The values of S and r to be inserted
in thes e formulas relate to the lower edge of the shell of revolution.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 77.

R 4.6.8.2 Strength condition

ad is the meridional membrane compressive stress along the

supported edge, produced by all the acting loads, each taken with
its factored value. The strength condition is

ad =
< au (4.6-81)

in which a is the design value of the stress which the shell will
u
withstand. auis evaluatedasexplained inR4.6.8.2.landR4.6.8.2.2.

R 4. 6. 8. 2. l Elastic buckling of cones with 15 ° ,;, B < 65 °

au is given by the formulas

aI
u
y
1 with y 1.1 = (4.6-82)

cr' =o:a (4.6-83)

u cr

a = 474 000 w-1.9 7 6 1~

cr
Y
ts&nB (4.6-84)

a = 0. 0778 w0,290 when w =< o.oos.e.r (4.6-85)

a = 0. 077 w0 • 266 when 0.008£

r
<: w=< 0.02f..
r
( 4. 6-86)

w= 1 ooo( 2 y'r23 ~)% ( 4. 6-8?)

Et sin2S
provided that a'u =< f y /2 . (4.6-88)

The expression for ocr provides a good approximation for the

buckling stress of a perfect elastic simply supported (mx= 0) weight-
less liquid-filled conical shell. The reduction factor a accounts
for the influence of imperfections within the ranges defined in
( 4. 6-8 5) and ( 4. 6-8 6) on the buckling stress. y = 1.1 is a partial
safety factor introduced because of the imperfection sensitivity of
liquid-filled conical shells.
78. COMMENTS

Examples

C 4. 6. 8. 2 .1.1 The lower part of the conical tank of a steel water

tower that failed was thicker than its upper part. Assuming that
the thinner upper part was constrained to remain circular and was
simply supported at its lower edge 1 and that w did not exceed
O.OOBt 1 the following data and calculations are relevant
r
r = 3 ?94 mm .J
t ::::: 8 nun .J B = 51° J E = 196 200 Nj mrn2

w = 288.95 (given by 4. 6-87) 1 a - 147.?6N/mm 2

cr -
(give n by 4, 6-84) I

a = 0. 402 (given by 4. 6-85) I

a , = 59.45 N/mm 2 (given by 4.6-83),
u

o
u
= 54.0SN/rrrm 2 (given by 4.6-82).

The meridional membrane compressive stress at the bottom of the

thin part was due primarily to the water content. The own weight
of the conical tank, of its toroidal upper part and of its sphe-
rical roof contributed little to the membrane stress. The membrane
stress amounted to 77.66 N/mm 2 when the shell actually failed.

C 4.6.8.2.1.2 A conical water tank is assumed to have the same di-

mensions as inC 4.6.8.2.1.1 1 except for its thickness, which now
is t = 15 mm. It is again assumed that w~ 0. OOBtr • When the water
is at overflow level in the tank, i t produces a meridional thrust
amounting to 825 N per running mm of the circumference of the lower
edge. Which load factor can be applied before the shell may be
expected to buckle ?

w = 153.86 (given by 4.6-87) a ::::: 273.72 Njmm 2 (given by 4. 6-84)

CT'

Ct =0.335 (given by 4. 6-85) a'

u
= 91.74N/mm 2 (given by 4.6-83)

Formula (4.6-89) gives the same result.

a ::::: 83.40N/mm 2 (given by 4.6-82).
u

ta
u
= 1 251 N/mm and buckling should not occur before the load factor
exceeds 1251 I 825 =1.52.
C 4. 6. 8. 2. 2 For a liquid-filled cone whose opposite genera trices
enclose a small angle 2B 1 the interpolation formula (4. 6-92) achieves
continuity between the values au given in R 4.6.8.2.1 for cones
with B ~ 15° and those given in R 4.6.1.4 and R 4.6.1.5.4 for
cylinders subjected simultaneously to axial load and internal
pressure.
 RECOMMENDATIONS 79.

o'l.d is calculated as the stress au given by the equations

(4.6-82) to (4.6-87), in which 8 is not set equal to its real value,
but to 15 °. Next au 2 i s calculated for an axially loaded cylinder of
radius r and thickness t, with an internal pressure p equal to the
liquid pressure existing at the bottom of the ac t ual conical she l l
 RECOMMENDATIONS 81.

under working conditions :

a a
a
u2
=_p____£!:_
y
with y =
4
3
and a
cr
= 0. 605 E!
r
( 4. 6-91)

and with a given by(4.6-10) and (4.6-?). However 1 in accordance with

p
R 4.6.1.2, o , as given by (4.6-10) and (4.6-?) , must be reduced to
_P
a /2 when w
p =
0. 02.e. When 0. Ol.t < w < 0. 02£.
r , linear interpolation
:r = r
between a and a /2 provides the factor to be used in (4.6-91) when
p p
calculating ou 2 •

cr for the liquid-filled conical shell with B < 15° may then be
u
evaluated by interpolation between au 2 and aul :
- Bo
au- au2 + IT(oul-au2) (4.6-92)

provided that neither 1.1crul nor J4 au 2 exceeds fy/2.

82. REFERENCES

REFERENCES

[4.6-1] M. ESSLINGER, B. GEIER and J.G.M. WOOD - Some complements

to the ECCS design code concerning isotropic cylinders -
Stability of steel structures, Preliminary Report of the
Second International Colloquium, Liege, April 1977,
p. 589-598.
[4.6-2] NASA SP-8007 - Buckling of thin-walled circular cylinders -
1968, 49p.
[4. 6-3 ] V.I. WEINGARTEN, E. J. MORGAN and P. SEIDE - Elastic stabi-
lity of thin-walled cylindrical and conical shells under
axial compression - AIAA Journal, Vol. 3, no 3, March 19 65,
p. 500-505.
[4.6-4] P. SEIDE, V.I. WEINGARTEN and E. J. MORGAN - The development
of design criteria of elastic stability of thin shell struc-
tures - Space Technology Laboratory, Inc. (now TRW Systems),
Dec. 31 , 1 9 6 0 •

[4.6-5] V.I. WEINGARTEN, E. J. MORGAN and P. SEIDE - Elastic stabi-

lity of thin-walled cylindrical and conical shells under
combined internal pressure and axial compression - AIAA
Journal, Vol. 3, n° 6, June 1965, p. 1118.
[4.6-6] S.B. KENDRICK - Shape imperfections in cylinders and sphe-
res : their importance in design and methods of !ll2asure-
ment- Jl. of Strain Analysis, vel. 12, 1977, pp. 117-122.
[4.6-7] BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION (London) BS 5500 : 1976 -
Specification for Unfired Fusion Welded Pressure Vessels
(amendments to this Standard are published periodically) .
External pressure is considered in Section 3. 6 of the
Standard.
[4.6-8] S.B. KENDRICK - Collapse of stiffened cylinders under ex-
ternal pressure - Paper C190/7 2 in Proceedings of a Con-
ference on "Vessels under Buckling conditions'' , I. Mech. E. ,
London, Dec. 1972.
[4.6-9] S.S. GILL et al. - The Stress Analysis of Pressure Vessels
and Pressure Vessel Components (see Chap. 9) - Pergamon
Press, 1970.
[4.6-10] M. ESSLINGER and B. GEIER - Post-buckling behaviour of
structures - CISM Lecture Series, Udine, Italy, Sept./Oct.
1974.
[4.6-11] BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION (London) - PD 6486 : 1978 -
EXPRESS : A Computer Aid to the Design of Externally Pres-
surized Stiffened Cylinders.
[4. 6-12] R. ZOELLY - Uber ein Knickungsproblem an der Kugelschale -
Dissertation Zurich 1915.
[4. 6-13] C.N. NEWLAND - Collapse of domes under external pressure -
Paper Cl91/72 in Proceedings of a Conference on "Vessels
under buckling conditions" , I. Mech. E. , London, Dec. 197 2.
[ 4. 6-14] N.J. HOFF - Some recent studies on the buckling of thin
shells- AIAA Journal, Vol. 73, December 1969, p. 1057-1070.
 REFERENCES 83.

[4.6-15] G.D. GALLETLY - On elastic and elastic plastic asymmetric

buckling of pressurized combinations of thin shells - Der
Stahlbau, Heft 11, 1979, S. 340-346.
[4.6-16] M. ESSLINGER und H. KERKHOFF - Berechnung der Beullasten
von ringversteiften Rotationsschalen unter axialsymme-
trischer Belastung im elastischen Bereich Deutsche
Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt
E.V., Institut fur Strukturtechnik, Braunschweig, Mai !979.
[4.6-17] BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION (London) - BS 5500 : !982 -
Issue 2, June !982 Specification for Unfired Fusion
Welded Pressure Vessels.
[4. 6-18] D. VANDEPITTE and J. RATHE - Buckling of circular cylin-
drical shells under axial load in the elastic.:..plastic
region- Der Stahlbau, Heft 12, 1980, s. 369-373.

[4.6-19] European Recommendations for Steel Construction, March 197 8 -

European Convention for Constructional Steelwork.
[4.6-20] C. D. MILLER - Buckling of axially compressed cylinders -
Journal of the Structural Division, American Society of
Civil Engineers, Volume 103, No ST3, March 1977, pp. 695-721.
[4.6-21] H. GROTH -Buckling of cylinders with longitudinal stiffeners
subjected to axial compression- Flygtekniska Forsoksanstal ten,
Stockholm, TN HU-2184, Dec. 1979.
[4.6-22] C.P. ELLINAS and J .G.A. CROLL- Experimental and theoretical
correlations for elastic buckling of axially compressed
stringer stiffened cylinders - Journal of Strain Analysis,
Vol • 1 8 , No 1 , 1 9 8 3 , pp • 4 1 - 6 7 •
[4.6-23] L .JL SAMUELSON , D. VANDEPITTE et al. - The background to
the ECCS recommendations for buckling of stringer stiffened
cylinders (paper to be published}.
I
[4.6-24] D. VANDEPITTE , J. RATHE , B. VERHEGGHE , R. PARIDAENS and
C. VERSCHAEVE - Experimental investigation of buckling of
hydrostatically loaded, conical shells and practical eva-
luation of the buckling load - Buckling of Shells , edited
by E. RAMM, 1982, p. 375-399- Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg,
New York.
[4.6-25] D. VANDEPITTE and G. LAGAE - Theoretical and experimental
investigation of buckling of liquid-filled conical shells -
Third International Colloquium on Stability of Metal Struc-
tures (l.j·ovember 1983, Paris), Preliminary Report, p. 399-406.
84.

LIST OF SYMBOLS

As used in sections 4.6.1 to 4.6.4

u~ v~ w elastic displacements in the x, y~ z direction

w amplitude of the imperfection of a shell or astiffening
ring
n ~
m stress resultants in a shell (dimension force / length
X X
or moment/length, resp.)
e angle at the centre
r~ t radius and thickness of cylindrical or spherical shell
£ length of a template
r
a~ ao ~ ap , ab : reduction factors
£ length or unsupported length of a cylinder
££ ~ £h distance between light or heavy, resp., stiffening
rings of a cylinder
£ effective length of cylindrical shell, acting with a
ef
stiffener
0
cr critical elastic (bifurcation) stress for a perfect
shell
ad design stress, i.e. stress produced by the factored
loads
0
u
minimum acting stress which the shell will withstand
Oa uniform compressive stress due to design axial load
0b maximum compressive stress due to design bendingmoment
0 eff effective stress
E modulus of elasticity
E modulus of elasticity of ring stiffener material
r
v Poisson's ratio
~

Iy yield stress
fyr yield stress of ring stiffener material
n circumferential buckling wave number
p pressure
Per critical elastic (bifurcation) pressure for a perfect
shell
pd design pressure, i.e. factored value of the acting
pressure
minimum pressure which the she l l will withstand
pressure causing yield of the steel
overallelastic critical (bifur cation) pressure corres-
ponding with the wave number n
P non-dimensional pressure parameter
8, o~ ~. n, x, ~~ w : dimensionless constants or parameters
 85.

.4. I I area and second moment of area of cross-section of

1' .r ring stiffener or of (stiffener + effective length
of shell), resp.
r' .J i"f .J T' 1 : various radii
1'

1'2
A = -A
r2 r
1'
b., bf ., tw ., tf J hhl , h 2 J he various dimensions of an I-ring
stiffener or of the s tiffen er + effective length
of shell
a parameter defining the amplitude of the out-of-
roundness of a stiffening ring
number equal to +1 or -1
circumferential direct stress or bending stress,
resp., in ring stiffener
total circumferential stress in ring stiffener
y partial safety factor
1 slenderness parameter
Additional symbols used in sections 4.6.5 and 4.6.8
.......................................................
Q axial force
Qd design value ofthe axial force, i.e. axial force produced
by the factored ldads
M bending moment
Md design value of the bending moment, i.e. bending moment
produced by the factored loads
t thickness of cylindrical or conical shell
ts thickness ofcylinder withsmeared-out stringer stiffeners
b circumferential spacing of stringer stiffeners
As cross-sectional area of one stringer stiffener
EI 8 .J GC 8 bending stiffness and torsional stiffness of one stringer
stiffener
Ai" cross-sectional area of one ring stiffener
one
Eir .J GCr bending stiffness and torsional stiffness of +ring stiffener
es distance between cylinder midsurface and stringer centroid
ei" distance between cylinder midsurface and ring stiffener
centroid
D shell wall stiffness
f..G length of gauge for measuring imperfections of astringer
stiffener
-v circumferential initial out of straightness of astringer
vl parameter defining tilt of stringer web
v2 parameter defining tilt of str i nger flange
 86.

acting stress which an imperfect stiffened cylinder will

withstand before local shell buckling occurs
(J acting stress which an imperfect stiffened cylinder will
up
withstand before stiffened panel buckling occurs
Cl stress causing local shell buckling of a perfect elastic
crJ.t stiffened cylinder
0 s tress causing s tif fened panel buckling of a perfect
crJp el astic stiffened cylinder
simpZ value of o obtained by a simplifie d procedure
Cl
crJ p cr,p
0 buckling stress for a perfec t elastic cylinder without
crJc stiffeners
nondimensionalized stiffened panel buckling stress
ratio of nondimensionalized stiffened panel buckling
stresses
£.. a reduction factors
(1. J
sp
m number of longitudinal buckling half waves
ns number of stringers
be effective width of cylindrica l panel
fe effective length
I second moment of area of stringer plus effective width of
- sef
shell panel
1/1 parameter depending on the location of the stringers
inside or outside the cylinder
angle enclosed by opposite genera trices of a conical shell
y' specific weight of fluid
various weights
height of the liquid content of a conical shell or other
shell of revolution
g weight per unit area of shell wall
w nondimensional system parameter forliquid-filled conical
shells