Robustness of empirical vibration correlation techniques for predicting the instability of unstiffened cylindrical composite shells in axial compression

Thin-walled carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) shells are increasingly used in aerospace industry. Such shells are prone to the loss of stability under compressive loads. Furthermore, the instability onset of monocoque shells exhibits a pronounced imperfection sensitivity. The vibration correlation technique (VCT) is being developed as a...