Transformed initial dent as a trigger of the post-buckling process

A procedure for determination of critical loads of imperfect shells is proposed with allowance for the technique of stability and load carrying capacity of incomplete shells in an inhomogeneous stress–strain state developed earlier in the monographs [Gavrylenko GD. Stability of ribbed cylindrical shells in inhomogeneous stress–strain state. Kiev: Nauk. Dumka; 1989. 176pp [in Russian]; Gavrylenko GD. Stability of ribbed shells of incomplete form. Ukraine: Institute of Mathematics of NAS; 1999. 190pp [in Russian]].New method of numerical estimation of carrying capacity of a shell is suggested and realized. Results from a joint theoretical and experimental investigation of the buckling of cylindrical shells containing localized dent damage are presented.