Buckling patterns of complete spherical shells filled with an elastic medium under external pressure

The critical buckling characteristics of hydrostatically pressurized complete spherical shells filled with an elastic medium are demonstrated. A model based on small deflection thin shell theory, the equations of which are solved in conjunction with variational principles, is presented. Axisymmetric and inextensional assumptions are not used initially in the exact formulation and the elastic medium is modelled as a Winkler foundation, i.e. using uncoupled radial springs with a constant foundation modulus that is independent of wave numbers of shell buckling modes. Simplified approximations based on a Rayleigh–Ritz approach are also introduced for the critical buckling pressure and the mode number with a considerable degree of accuracy. Characteristic modal shapes are demonstrated for a wide range of material and geometric parameters. A phase diagram is established to obtain the requisite thickness to radius, and stiffness ratios for a desired mode profile. The present exact formulation can be readily extended to apply to more general cases of non-axisymmetric buckling problems and the approximate method can be extended to the post-buckling range.