Buckling and post-buckling behaviour of a cylindrical panel under axial compression

The post-buckling behaviour of narrow cylindrical panels, such as occur in stiffened cylindrical shells, is investigated by means of the general theory of ref. 8 for one set of boundary conditions along the longitudinal edges. It appears that the initial post-'buckling stage is stable only for very narrow panels. A program for further research is outlined with respect to other boundary conditions, to the more advanced post-buckling stage, and to an experimental verification. It is conjectured that the behaviour of a narrow cui-ved panel in tlie advanced post-buckling stage will approach the behaviour of a flat panel of the same width.