Stability of circumferentially corrugated cylindrical shells under external pressure

Corrugated shells of revolution that may be considered cylindrical when the corrugation amplitude is small are analyzed for stability. The corrugations are transverse to the axis of revolution. Isotropic and orthotropic shells with sine-shaped meridian under uniform external compression are analyzed for stability. It is shown that the stability of corrugated shells can be significantly improved, compared with cylindrical shells, by selecting appropriate number and amplitude of half-waves. A relationship between the buckling modes and the change in the critical loads is established