BUCKLING OF THE MULTI-VAULTED ASTER SHELL UNDER AXIAL-COMPRESSION ALONE OR COMBINED WITH AN EXTERNAL-PRESSURE

This paper presents a study of buckling of the multi-vaulted cylindric al shell (''Aster''), under an axial compression alone or combined wit h an external pressure. This shell which was presented in a recent pap er is a self-stiffened structure having a satisfactory behaviour and a higher buckling strength under external pressure than a circular cyli ndrical shell with the same dimensions. The results of this study emph asize the interest of the behaviour of the ''Aster'' shell under two o ther types of loading, revealing an acceptable level of strength which is favorable for an expansion of its use in other areas.