A separation‐of‐variable method for eigenbuckling analysis of closed and open circular cylindrical shells

Abstract

The analytical solutions for buckling of closed and open cylindrical shells under different boundary conditions are challenging. A separation‐of‐variable method with closed‐form eigensolution under Donnell–Mushtari theory is proposed for eigenbuckling analysis in cylindrical shells. The modal function is adopted as the form W = e^μαe^λβ. It can be applied to the closed and open cylindrical shells with different boundary conditions, and the whole calculation process is explicit. The critical buckling capacities of short cylindrical shells are close under the simply supported or clamped boundary conditions. The predictions are in good agreement with those in literature and the finite element model.