Computation of Localized Post Buckling in Long Axially-Compressed Cylindrical Shells

Buckling is investigated of a long thin cylindrical shell under longitudinal compression as modelled by the von KK armm an{Donnell equations. Evidence is reviewed for the buckling being localised to some portion of the axial length. In accordance with this observed behaviour the equations are rst approximated circumferentially by a Galerkin procedure, whereupon cross-symmetric homoclinic solutions of the resulting system of ordinary diierential equations are sought in the axial direction. Results are compared with experimental and other numerical data. Excellent agreement with experiments is achieved with fewer circumferential modes than other methods.