Effect of Eccentricity of Stiffeners on the General Instability of Stiffened Cylindrical Shells under Hydrostatic Pressure

The general instability of a simply supported cylindrical shell under hydrostatic pressure is analysed by considering the ‘distributed stiffness’ of the frames and stringers separately, taking into account their eccentricity. It is shown that frames on the inside of the shell yield general instability loads about 10–15 per cent greater than frames on the outside of the shell. Stringers are much less effective in stiffening a shell under hydrostatic pressure, and the effect of eccentricity is opposite; outside stringers yield critical loads greater than inside stringers.