POSTBUCKLING OF INFINITE LENGTH CYLINDRICAL PANELS UNDER COMBINED THERMAL AND PRESSURE LOADING

An analysis for the pre- and postbuckling behavior of infinite length panels, stiffened and unstiffened, including transverse shear and temp erature dependent elastic moduli and thermal expansion coefficients, i s proposed. The analysis involves the solution of a system of nonlinea r differential equations by means of a relatively new spline-collocati on method. Results, yielded by the present study and describing the re sponse of lightly to moderately stringer-stiffened panels and unstiffe ned ones, subjected to heating and pressure loading, are presented. It is shown that neglect of transverse shear and temperature effects may lead to erroneous results and conclusions.