Buckling Behavior and Strength of Pressure Shell Structures

Pressure shell structures—thin‐walled cylinders, spheres and toroids—play a vital role in industries ranging from petrochemical storage and marine vessels to aerospace pressure vessels. Their load‐bearing capacity under external and internal pressures is governed by a complex interplay of geometry, material properties and manufacturing imperfections. When subjected to increasing pressure, a shell may exhibit elastic deformation until reaching a critical buckling load, at which point a sudden lateral displacement or localised collapse occurs. Factors such as the ratio of radius to thickness, initial geometric imperfections, residual stresses from welding and environmental effects (for example corrosion or impact) can substantially reduce the theoretical buckling strength. Recent advances have combined analytical solutions from classical shell theory with large‐scale laboratory tests and high‐fidelity numerical simulations to characterise pre‐buckling and post‐buckling regimes. Strategies to enhance stability include the use of composite wraps, ring or stringer stiffeners and hydroforming techniques to shape the shell and introduce beneficial residual stress fields. Improved understanding of dynamic buckling under transient loads—such as subsea collisions or shock events—has further extended design codes. The global significance of this work is profound, underpinning safer storage of pressurised gases, more resilient submarine hulls and lighter, more efficient fuselage elements.

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Buckling Behavior and Strength of Pressure Shell Structures publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in buckling behavior and strength of pressure shell structures across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Buckling: Sudden lateral instability of a shell under critical load.

Shell structure: Thin‐walled curved element carrying pressure via membrane action.

Critical buckling load: The load at which elastic equilibrium is lost.

Imperfection sensitivity: Reduction in strength due to geometric or material deviations.

Hydrostatic pressure: Uniform fluid pressure acting on a submerged surface.

Slenderness ratio (r/t): The ratio of shell radius to wall thickness.

Finite element method (FEM): Numerical technique for approximating stress and deformation.

References

1. Investigation of the Dynamic Buckling of Spherical Shell Structures Due to Subsea Collisions. Applied Sciences (2018).
2. Buckling Behavior of Metallic Cylindrical Shell Structures Strengthened with CFRP Composite. Advances in Civil Engineering (2018).
3. Design and Analysis of a Typical Vertical Pressure Vessel Using ASME Code and FEA Technique. Designs (2023).
4. Thin-walled cylindrical shells in engineering designs and critical infrastructures: A systematic review based on the loading response. Curved and Layered Structures (2023).
5. Buckling of Hydroformed Toroidal Pressure Hulls with Octagonal Cross-Sections. Metals (2022).
6. Buckling of Imperfect Thin Cylindrical Shell under Lateral Pressure. Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations (2008).