Compressive instability in metal-coated polymer cylinders: Models for solid and hollow cores

Lightweight structures directly contribute to the sustainability of aviation, as their use reduces the structural weight of aircraft which in turn reduces fuel burned during flight. One family of lightweight structures is metal-coated polymers. Hybrid nanocrystalline microtrusses are a member of this family. These structures are fabricated by 3D printing complex truss-like structures out of polymer material, and electrodepositing nanocrystalline metal onto the polymer. Recent work shows that buckling instabilities govern the strength of these systems. Hence this study focuses on modelling local shell buckling, one of the critical buckling mechanisms. This paper briefly reviews existing models for local shell buckling of cylindrical shells filled with low-density material, and outlines the development and verification of two improved models.