The present study investigates the elasto-plastic buckling behaviour of semi-cylindrical shells with elastic edge restraints under the action of a central radial load, both numerically and experimentally. Several design parameters are expressed to characterize the influence of elastic edge restraints on load-bearing capacity. A reduction factor equation is developed as a multivariate function of the shell parameters, which evaluates the amount of decrease in load-bearing capacity of the structure caused by elastic edge restraints. Additionally, an equation to predict load-bearing capacity under clamped edge conditions is introduced, which is used as a reference value in the reduction factor equation. Conditions for the elasto-plastic buckling occurrence are identified with the help of normalized parameters. An exclusive validation process is applied to the proposed expressions using a large series of numerical, experimental data and statistical methods to ascertain the accuracy of the predictions at a wide range of design parameters. Furthermore, parametric studies are performed in which the influence of elastic edge restraints, material plasticity and radius-to-thickness ratio on the limit load as well as deformation patterns of the semi-cylinders, is investigated. The results show that elastic edge restraint stiffness has a significant effect on the limit load of semi-cylindrical shells under in-plane loading and, therefore, cannot be underestimated.

本研究通过数值和实验研究了在中心径向载荷作用下具有弹性边缘约束的半圆柱壳的弹塑性屈曲行为。表达了几个设计参数来表征弹性边缘约束对承载能力的影响。一个折减系数方程被开发为壳参数的多元函数，用于评估由弹性边缘约束引起的结构承载能力的降低量。此外，还引入了一个预测夹紧边缘条件下承载能力的方程，该方程用作折减系数方程中的参考值。弹塑性屈曲发生的条件在标准化参数的帮助下确定。使用大量数值、实验数据和统计方法对所提出的表达式进行独家验证过程，以确定在各种设计参数下预测的准确性。此外，还进行了参数研究，其中研究了弹性边缘约束、材料塑性和半径与厚度比对半圆柱体的极限载荷和变形模式的影响。结果表明，弹性边缘约束刚度对面内载荷下半圆柱壳的极限载荷有显着影响，因此不可低估。进行了参数研究，其中研究了弹性边缘约束、材料塑性和半径与厚度比对极限载荷的影响以及半圆柱体的变形模式。结果表明，弹性边缘约束刚度对面内载荷下半圆柱壳的极限载荷有显着影响，因此不可低估。进行了参数研究，其中研究了弹性边缘约束、材料塑性和半径与厚度比对极限载荷的影响以及半圆柱体的变形模式。结果表明，弹性边缘约束刚度对面内载荷下半圆柱壳的极限载荷有显着影响，因此不可低估。