Development of a New Concept for Cylindrical Pressure Hulls

Abstract

The prebuckled cylindrical (PC) shell represents a new structural concept suitable for use in the undersea environment. The externally pressurized PC shell has been shown to be more resistant to buckling failure than a comparable “true” cylinder. The technical feasibility of this new concept has now been realized by the design and construction of a large-scale prototype made entirely of transparent acrylic plastic. The success of this initial effort offers encouragement to further pursue applications of this novel structural form to other uses in the ocean.