POSTBUCKLING OF INFINITE LENGTH CYLINDRICAL PANELS UNDER COMBINED THERMAL AND PRESSURE LOADING

An analysis for the pre- and postbuckling behavior of infinite length panels, stiffened and unstiffened, including transverse shear and temperature dependent elastic moduli and thermal expansion coefficients, is proposed. The analysis involves the solution of a system of nonlinear differential equations by means of a relatively new spline-collocation method. Results, yielded by the present study and describing the response of lightly to moderately stringer-stiffened panels and unstiffened ones, subjected to heating and pressure loading, are presented. It is shown that neglect of transverse shear and temperature effects may lead to erroneous results and conclusions.