Experimental Evaluation of the Instability Threshold of Vertical Cylindrical Vessels

Abstract The present paper presents an experimental analysis of the structural behavior of vertical cylindrical vessels subjected to increasing axial loads, with the aim of determining the critical instability threshold. The study focuses on identifying the conditions under which buckling or loss of stability phenomena occur, considering the influence of geometric parameters, material and support conditions. The experiments were performed on certain prototypes, using high-precision measuring equipment to monitor deformations and stress distribution. The obtained results were compared with theoretical predictions and numerical models, highlighting the differences between the idealized and real behavior. The conclusions of the study contribute to improving the design criteria for vertical cylindrical structures and provide recommendations for preventing instability in industrial applications