Numerical and Experimental Buckling and Post-Buckling Analyses of Sphere-Segmented Toroidal Shell Subject to External Pressure

This study determined the buckling characteristics of sphere-segmented toroidal shells subjected to external pressure. The proposed vessel comprises six spheres and rings. Two laboratory models with same nominal dimensions were manufactured, measured, tested, evaluated. To investigate whether are imperfection-sensitive structures closely spaced eigenvalues, subspace algorithm was applied evaluate first 50 eigenmodes, modified Riks used obtain post-buckling characteristics. results indicated that deviation between experimental numerical analyses within a reasonable range. highly eigenvalues. Subsequently, imperfection sensitivity analysis confirmed this conclusion. In analyses, eigenmode could be considered as worst shells. trend equilibrium path consistent spherical shells, revealing instability. addition, ellipticity completeness exerted negligible effect on load