The Numerical Analysis Of Linear And Nonlinear Buckling For Wiggins Gasholder

Wiggins gasholder are commonly used in gas storage. The approximate method of stability analysis in engineering cannot reflect Wiggins's true stress state with the development of Wiggins's maximization and complication by virtue of ring stiffeners and vertical stiffeners. It is necessary to study the stability of the gasholder by numerical calculation to provide a reference for designer.Firstly, stability effect factors, such as spacing and stiffness of ring stiffeners on gasholder body, rise-to-span ratio, number and stiffness of radial girders, spacing and stiffness of ring girders on gasholder top, are studied by linear buckling analysis. Further, the effect of spacing and stiffness of ring stiffeners on body and ring girders on top are studied by nonlinear buckling analysis. The study showed that spacing and stiffness of ring stiffeners are main factors of gasholder's stability under wind load. While number and stiffness of radial girders and rise-to-span ratio are main factors of gasholder's stability under snow load.Finally, nonlinear buckling analysis of gasholder with initial imperfections is implemented. The results showed that the gasholder is very sensitive of imperfections. Both type of buckling, deformation and stress can be changed by initial imperfections.