• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2021

This paper derives numerically new buckling Knockdown factors for the lightweight design of the composite propellant tanks for space launch vehicles. A nonlinear finite element analysis code, ABAQUS, is used for the present postbuckling analysis of composite cylinders under compressive loads. Various thickness ratios (R/t) and slenderness ratios (L/R) are considered and Single Perturbation Load Approach is applied to represent the geometric initial imperfection of the composite cylinder. For the composite cylinder with thickness ratio of 500 and slenderness ratio of 2.04, the buckling Knockdown factor derived in this work is higher by 84.38% than NASA's previous buckling design criteria. Therefore, it is investigated that a lightweight design is possible when the present Knockdown factors are used for the design of composite propellant tanks. In addition, it is shown that global buckling loads and buckling Knockdown factors decrease as the thickness ratio or slenderness ratio of composite cylinders increases.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.283-289
• /
• 2021

This paper derives numerically the buckling Knockdown factors using two different initial imperfection models, such as geometric and loading imperfection models, to investigate the unstiffened composite cylinder with an ellipse pre-buckling deformation pattern. Single Perturbation Load Approach (SPLA) is applied to represent the geometric initial imperfection of a thin-walled composite cylinder; while Single Boundary Perturbation Approach (SBPA) is used to represent the geometric and loading imperfections simultaneously. The buckling Knockdown factor derived using SPLA is higher than NASA's buckling design criteria by approximately 84%, and lower than buckling test result by 9%. The buckling Knockdown factor using SBPA is higher than NASA's buckling design criteria by about 75%, and 14% lower than the buckling test result. Therefore, it is shown that the buckling Knockdown factors derived in this study can provide a lightweight design compared to the previous buckling design criteria while they give reasonably a conservative design compared to the buckling test for both the initial imperfection models.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.48 no.9
• /
• pp.653-661
• /
• 2020

This study derives numerically the shell Knockdown factors for the isogrid-stiffened cylinders of space launch vehicles when the axially compressive force and internal pressure are applied simultaneously. A commercial nonlinear finite element analysis software, ABAQUS, is used for the present work. Nonlinear postbuckling analyses are conducted to calculate the global buckling loads of a cylinder without and with the internal pressure. The shell Knockdown factor is numerically derived using the predicted global buckling loads without and with the geometrically initial imperfection of a cylinder. When the internal pressure of 500 kPa and compressive force are applied to the cylinder, the global buckling load and Knockdown factor increases by 304% and 53%, respectively, as compared to the results without the internal pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.10-21
• /
• 2022

The propellant tank, which is a space launch vehicle structure, must have structural integrity as various static and dynamic loads are applied during ground transportation, launch standby, take-off and flight processes. Because of these characteristics, the propellant tank cylinder, the structural object of this study, has a thin thickness, so buckling due to compressive load is considered important in the cylinder design. However, the existing buckling design standards such as NASA and Europe are fairly conservative and do not reflect the latest design and manufacturing technologies. In this study, nonlinear buckling analysis is performed using various analysis models that reflect initial defects, and a method for establishing new buckling design standards for cylinder structures is presented. In conclusion, it was confirmed that an effective lightweight design of the cylinder structure for common bulkhead propulsion tank could be realized.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 1993

In order to promote the efficient use of composite materials, effort is currently being directed at the development of design criteria for composite structures. Insofar as design against buckling is concerned, it is well known that, for metal shells, a key step is the definition of 'knockdown' factors on the elastic critical buckling stress accounting mainly for the influence of initial geometric imperfections. At present, the imperfection sensitivity of composite shells has not been explored in detail. Due to the large number of parameters influencing buckling response (considerably larger than for isotropic shells), a very large number of tests would be needed to quantify imperfection sensitivity experimentally. An alternative approach is to use validated numerical models for this task. Thus, the objective of this paper is to outline the underlying theory used in developing a composite shell element and to present results from a validation exercise and subsequently from a parametric study on axially loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) curved panels using finite element modelling. Both eigenvalue and incremental analyses are performed, the latter including the effect of initial geometric imperfection shape and amplitude, and the results are used to estimate 'knockdown' factors for such panels.