Experimental investigation and probabilistic analysis of the buckling load of isotropic cylinders under multiaxial loading

This paper presents a multitude of experimental results for cylindrical shells under combined loading. The loading is a combination of axial compression and bending moment. These are accompanied with numerical simulations. The load ratio itself is subject to scatter, a direct comparison and application of results for the sizing of shells is not straight forward. Therefore, a new approach is presented, which transfers the results to normalized load factors. • Tests with isotropic shells under combined bending and compression are conducted. • Test results from different load combinations can be compared via a load factor. • Geometric and thickness imperfection data of 22 plastic shells are presented. • Probabilistic analyses of multiaxially loaded cylindrical shells are carried out.