Abstract Cylindrical shell structures are widely used in engineering applications, particularly in ships and aircraft, due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and efficiency in resisting compressive loads. However, these structures are susceptible to failure through buckling, especially when imperfections such as load eccentricity, thickness variation, and initial geometric deviations are present. This study examines the structural response of thin-walled cylindrical shells subjected to axial compression, taking into account various imperfections. A finite element (FE) approach using ABAQUS software was employed and validated against previous experimental data. A parametric study was conducted using varying load eccentricity, initial geometric imperfections, and longitudinal thickness. The results show that load eccentricity significantly reduces the ultimate load and shifts the location of deformation. Both geometric and thickness imperfections also affect structural strength and the location of buckling. These findings enhance the reliability and safety of cylindrical shell designs in engineering applications.
Maharditya et al. (2025) studied this question.