Elastic stability analysis of loosely fitted thin liners – A proposed simplified procedure and evaluation of existing solutions

The paper reports the results of an extensive numerical simulation to estimate the elastic buckling pressure and the corresponding thrust and bending moment induced in loosely fitted thin liners. The study is conducted numerically using a two-dimensional (2D) non-linear finite element model that accounts for the effects of large deformations on the stability of loosely fitted liners. The finite element results together with a non-linear multi-variant regression analysis are used to develop simplified non-dimensional formulae that provide the critical pressure, thrust and bending moments, at buckling, based on the liner’s geometry and material properties.In addition, several other analytical and numerical solutions for the same problem are revisited and critically reviewed. For comparison purposes, two of such methods are extended to allow for the calculation of the thrust and bending moment developed at the most heavily stressed point in the loosely fitted liners at the onset of buckling. In general, the comparison reveals the appropriateness of the proposed regression models in predicting the critical pressure and the associated thrust and bending moment induced in imperfect loosely fitted liners. Developed formulae provide designers with a simple and reliable means for ensuring stability and safety of such special type of structures.