Numerical investigation and development of design formula for cylindrically curved plates on ships and offshore structures

Although guidelines exist for evaluation of the buckling strength of curved plates on ships and offshore structures, they do not reflect the effects of curvature or detail their geometric characteristics. From estimations made using cylinder models, it is known that curvature is expected to increase the buckling strength and the ultimate strength of a curved plate. Therefore, it may be designed accordingly. This study aims to clarify and examine the fundamental behaviour of cylindrically curved plates under axial compression and lateral pressure via a series of elasto-plastic large deflection analyses. On the basis of these results, the effects of curvature, initial deflection, slenderness and aspect ratio, boundary conditions and secondary buckling behaviour are discussed and developed with a modified Faulkner's formula to obtain a double beta formula to predict the ultimate strength of the curved plate.