Abstract: | The problem of buckling of polymeric cylindrical shells under long-term loading is considered. The results of compressive and external-pressure tests on shells [10, 11, 12, 17] are discussed and their carrying capacity is estimated [16]. The buckling problem is solved theoretically on the basis of an investigation of the development of axisymmetric modes and their conversion to nonaxisymmetric modes [15]. The equations of the nonlinear theory of viscoelasticity are used as the physical relations. The theoretical model gives qualitative agreement with the experimental behavior of the shell under load. |