In this paper the individual and combined effects of random boundary and geometric imperfections on the limit loads of isotropic, thin-walled, cylindrical shells under axial compression are presented. Second moment characteristics of these imperfections are estimated by data of available measurements of imperfections, a simulation procedure based on the Karhunen-Loéve expansion is applied for g...

Cylindrical shells are used in a variety of applications. In some of these applications it is necessary to limit the vibrations of lightly-damped shells by applying a damping treatment that does not significantly increase the weight. This paper explores the use of partial coating of a cylindrical shell with a constrained viscoelastic layer for obtaining optimal damping. The placement of damping...

The elastic buckling of shell structures such as spherical shells subject to external pressure and cylindrical shells loaded in axial compression is highly sensitive to imperfections and often catastrophic. Recent studies of spherical shells have provided accurate quantitative results for the relation between the buckling pressure and the amplitude and shape of geometric imperfections and, addi...