Dynamic buckling of cylindrical shells subject to an axial impact in a symplectic system

This paper discusses the dynamic pre-buckling of finite cylindrical shells in the propagation and reflection of axial stress waves. By introducing the Hamiltonian system into dynamic buckling of structures, the problem can be described mathematically in a symplectic space. The solutions of Hamiltonian dual equations shown in canonical variables are obtained. The problem is reduced to the determination of eigenvalues and eigensolutions, with the former indicating critical buckling loads and the latter buckling modes. Numerical example presented shows phenomena of axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric dynamic buckling subject to impacts of axial load. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.