New buckling approximations for T-section ringbeams simply-supported at inner edge

A ring is generally provided at the intersection between the cylinder and the cone of an elevated storage silo or tank to resist a large circumferential compressive force at the intersection (the transition junction). This ring is a main structural member and is often referred to as a ringbeam (in contrast to relatively light rings as stiffeners on shell walls). A common cross-sectional form of this ringbeam is a T-section. This paper is concerned with the development of a simple method for assessing the elastic buckling strength of T-section ringbeams simply-supported at inner edge. A simply-supported inner edge represents a limiting case and a conservative idealisation of the inner edge support condition for a ringbeam attached to silo or tank walls. The buckling strength of simply-supported T-section ringbeams also provides a basis for formulating a buckling approximation for T-section ringbeams with a semi-rigid rotational restraint at the inner edge.