Effect of vertical reinforcement on the buckling behavior of thin-walled cylinders subjected to axial load

A series of 3D nonlinear finite element models were developed to evaluate the buckling behavior of a thin-walled cylinder with vertical reinforcing ribs evenly distributed around its perimeter. Reinforcement locations in the lower-upper zones, central section, and the entire mantle were analyzed, subjecting the cylinder to an axial compression load at the upper edge of the mantle. First, the 3D finite element models were validated by comparison with experimental results previously reported in the literature. Four reinforcement configurations were then applied to the initial geometry to assess the behavior of the cylinder with and without the proposed reinforcements. Buckling failure and load capacity of the thin-walled cylinders were analyzed. Nonlinearities due to material properties, second-order effects, and initial geometric imperfections were considered. The results show that full-height reinforcement in the compression zone of the mantle increases buckling resistance by 40 % for thin-walled cylinders subjected to axial load. Therefore, this type of reinforcement can be a good alternative to enhance buckling resistance in cylindrical metallic structures, including tanks and silos, subjected to similar loading conditions.