Comparing the Buckling Strength of Spherical Shells With Dimpled Versus Bumpy Defects

We investigate the effect of defect geometry in dictating sensitivity critical buckling conditions spherical shells under external pressure loading. Specifically, we perform a comparative study between containing dimpled (inward) versus bumpy (outward) Gaussian defects. The former has become standard shape many recent shell-buckling studies, whereas latter remained mostly unexplored. employ finite-element simulations, which were validated previously against experiments, to compute knockdown factors for two cases while systematically exploring parameter space geometry. For same magnitudes amplitude and angular width defect, find that defects consistently exhibit significantly higher than with more classic Furthermore, relationship as function is qualitatively different cases, also distinct post-buckling behavior. A speculative interpretation results provided based on qualitative differences mean-curvature profiles cases.