Numerical simulation and analysis of steel cylindrical shells with various diameter and length having an elliptical cutout, subjected to axial compression were systematically carried out in this paper. The investigation examined the influence of the cutout size, cutout angle and the shell aspect ratios L/D and D/t on the pre-buckling, buckling, and post-buckling responses of the cylindrical shells. For several specimens, an experimental investigation was also carried out via an INSTRON 8802 servo hydraulic machine and the results obtained from the experiments were compared with numerical results. A very good accordance was observed between the results obtained from the finite element simulation and the experiments. Furthermore, some equations in the form of a buckling load reduction factor were developed.

Keywords