Nonlinear Buckling Analysis of Cones with Rectangular Cutouts, Numerical and Experimental Investigation

In this paper a new regression relation for nonlinear ultimate buckling resistance of the cones with rectangular cutouts is presented. For this purpose, the effective geometry parameters and material properties such as the length, thickness, large diameter and angle of the cone, the length, width and location of cutout, the modulus of elasticity, yield stress and plastic properties are considered. Then using response surface method, 288 design of experiment is considered and a regression relation for predict the ultimate buckling resistance is proposed. To validate the results, two types of real experiment are presented and the results show that there is good agreement between the experimental tests and proposed relation. Then the effects of changing the various parameters on the ultimate buckling resistance of the cone are investigated. The results show that locating the cutout near the large diameter of the cone has more influence than locating near the small diameter. Also, the location of cutout has more influence at higher thickness. Also, the yield stress has more influence on ultimate buckling resistance at higher values of thickness. In addition, decreasing the length of the cone or increasing the diameter of the cone increase the ultimate buckling resistance and increasing the angle of cone decrease the ultimate buckling resistance of the cone.