Inelastic stability of conical tanks

The aim of this investigation is to study the effect of different imperfect ion shapes on the inelastic stability of liquid-filled conical tanks and to determine the critical imperfection shape that would lead to the minimum i nelastic limit load. The study is carried out numerically using a self-deve loped shell element used to simulate a number of conical tanks having an im perfection shape in the form of Fourier series of equal coefficients. The F ourier analysis of the buckling modes indicates that the existence of axisy mmetric imperfection will lead to the critical inelastic limit load for con ical tanks. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.