Simple upper-bound calculations for the indentation of cylindrical shells

Abstract An analytical study is made of the behaviour of a thin cylindrical shell subjected to two equal loads acting radially inward in opposite directions across the diameter of the shell and applied through two rigid bosses. A simple sequence of upper-bound calculations is performed, which makes possible a study of the effects of changing geometry on the capacity of the shell to carry applied loads. The interaction of elastic and plastic effects is analysed with the aid of some experimental results. The paper concludes with the observation that this type of structure and loading configuration do not exhibit any snap-through phenomena if plastic effects predominate, in contrast to the behaviour of the corresponding spherical shell.