The paper is focused on enhancement of buckling load of cylindrical shells using piezoelectric actuators. Non-linear finite element method is used to simulate the buckling behavior of thin shells. Asymmetric geometric imperfections are incorporated as a combination of eigenmodes in the shell geometry. Piezoelectric actuators are pasted at discrete locations based on the characteristic wavelength of the cylindrical shell. Numerical analysis carried out shows that buckling control allows the shell to support more load than an unactuated structure.

Keywords: Buckling control, Cylindrical shells, Piezoelectric actuators.