Parametric instability of a circular cylindrical shell with geometric imperfections

The static and dynamic behavior of a compressed circular cylindrical shell having geometric imperfections is analyzed. The analysis is mainly performed by means of the Donnell’s nonlinear shallow-shell theory. However, the refined Sanders shell theory is also used for comparison. A suitable expansion of the radial displacement, able to describe both buckling and dynamic behaviors is developed; the effect of geometric imperfections is accounted for by means of a modal representation. The response of the shell subjected to a sinusoidal axial excitation at its ends, giving rise to a parametric excitation, is considered. The effect of imperfections on the critical value of the dynamic load, that causes the loss of stability of the system, is analyzed. Interesting nonlinear dynamic phenomena are observed: direct resonance with softening behavior and parametric instability with period doubling response.