Stability of cylindrical shells with local imperfections

We propose a nonlinear approach to the stability analysis of imperfect cylindrical shells under axial compression. The approach takes into account the initial deflections (imperfections) of the shell shape from cylindrical. A series of typical initial deflections is analyzed: local and longitudinal bulges (dents) and unilateral annular corrugations. A nonlinear stability problem is solved. The results are represented as plots of the nondimensional stress versus the nondimensional amplitude of initial deflections. It is shown that the capabilities of the nonlinear theory for estimating the critical stresses for thin shells have not been exhausted yet and that it could be used in future to explain some phenomena experimentally observed in shells.