Critical loads of shells with high-modulus reinforcement

The analytical method developed to determine the upper and lower critical stresses is applied to cylindrical shells reinforced with stringers and rings. Buckling modes typical of shells reinforced with discrete ribs are considered. The minimum critical loads are determined and compared with available experimental data. Perfect and imperfect ribbed shells with high-modulus reinforcement are studied. It is proved that the effect of small axisymmetric imperfections in such shells is not so drastic as in isotropic shells. Ribs made of a high-modulus material can enhance the stability of shells by a factor of tens