Nonlinear Buckling Simulations of Imperfect Shell Domes by Mixed Finite Elements

A degenerated nine-node-shell element and interpolation formulation for stress resultant vectors are used. Fifty-two selected experiments previously performed by the second author on the elastic buckling of clamped thinwalled shallow spherical shells under external pressure are compared with the present finite element analytical results. The measured geometric initial imperfection distributions are incorporated in the finite element analytical procedure. The good agreements between the numerical simulations and the experimental measurements of not only maximum loads but also displacement distributions are obtained.