Numerical simulations on buckling failure of preloaded cylindrical shell irradiated by high power laser beam

The buckling failure of preloaded cylindrical shell irradiated by high power laser beam was studied by finite element software ANSYS 7.0 and simple thermal-mechanical coupling constitutive relations. The buckling mode and buckling critical loading were analyzed at different preloading conditions. The influence of laser intensity, beam irradiation time, preloading conditions and geometric parameters of cylindrical shell on the buckling mode were discussed. The numerical results show that: (1) the buckling deformation of the cylindrical shell was concentrated in the area of laser spot and the radial buckling was the main buckling mode; (2) a linear relationship between the buckling eigenvalue and the maximum temperature at the center of laser spot was approached; (3) the buckling failure of cylindrical shell was attributed to the coupling effect of the material softening and the radial deformation in the laser spot, and hence to raise the stiffness of the material would enhance the ability for anti-irradiation of structure substantially.