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Finite Element Modeling for the Simulation of the Quasi-Static Compression of Corrugated Tapered Tubes
Published on: January 6, 2023
Self-buckling of pressurized cylindrical tubes
Morten Opstrup Andersen1, Nikolaj Tønner Osvald Olsen1, Diksha Bhola2
1Aarhus University Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Katrinebjergvej 89F, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. matt@mpe.au.dk.
Soft Matter
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Internal pressure can prevent hollow cylinders from buckling under their own weight. This study explores how internal pressure affects the mechanical stability of cylindrical tubes, offering insights for engineering and biological structures.
Area of Science:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Hollow cylindrical tubes are susceptible to buckling under external loads.
- Self-buckling of cylinders under gravity has been extensively studied.
- Biological and engineering systems often involve structures with similar loading conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the buckling instability of hollow cylinders under self-weight and internal pressure.
- To determine the critical buckling pressure for various geometric and material parameters.
- To understand the combined effects of gravity and internal pressure on cylindrical tube stability.
Main Methods:
- Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations were employed.
- Desktop-scale experiments were conducted.
- Models were validated against established self-buckling results for solid rods and hollow cylinders.
Main Results:
- Positive internal pressures can increase the stiffness of cylinders unstable under self-weight.
- An effective Young's modulus was found to scale linearly with applied pressure.
- Cylinders stable under self-weight buckle under negative pressure, consistent with ring buckling.
Conclusions:
- Internal pressure significantly influences the buckling behavior of hollow cylinders.
- Findings provide new insights into the mechanical instability of structures under combined gravity and pressure loads.
- The results are applicable to both engineering components and biological tissues.
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