Plastic Buckling of Cones Subjected to Axial Compression and External Pressure

The paper provides details about tests on six steel cones. Test models were machined from 250 mm diameter billet. All cones had substantial and integral top and bottom flanges in order to secure well defined boundary conditions. Experimental data were obtained for: (i) two cones subjected to axial compression, (ii) two cones subjected to external pressure, and (iii) the remaining two models subjected to combined action of external pressure and axial compression. Apart from axisymmetric modeling of tested cones, true geometry with true wall thickness was also used in calculations. Theoretical failure loads were obtained for: (i) elastic perfectly plastic, (ii) engineering stress–strain, and (iii) true stress–true strain modeling of steel. The latter approach coupled with measured geometry and wall thickness secured safe predictions of the collapse loads in all cases. Comparisons of experimental collapse loads with estimates given by ASME and ECCS design codes are included. It is seen here that the ASME and ECCS rules provide a safety margin of about 100% against the collapse (except 50% for axial compression in the case of the ECCS).