Cone-cylinder intersection under internal pressure: Nonsymmetric buckling

Large circumferential compressive membrane stresses arise at the intersection of the large end of a cone and a cylinder when subjected to uniform internal pressure. Such intersections may fail by axisymmetric collapse involving excessive axisymmetric inward deformations or by nonsymmetric buckling. This paper presents a detailed finite-element investigation into the nonsymmetric bifurcation buckling behavior and strength of these intersections. Buckling pressures of a wide range of shell geometries are found, leading to the establishment of accurate and simple buckling strength equations. These equations are then used, together with the strength equations for axisymmetric collapse developed in previous work, to define the range of shell geometries whose strength is governed by nonsymmetric buckling.