(19) The amplitude of the geometric imperfection in the adopted pattern of the equivalent geometric
imperfection should be interpreted in a manner which is consistent with the gauge length method, set
out in 8.4.4 (2), by which it is defined.
(20) Additionally, it should be verified that an analysis that adopts an imperfection whose amplitude
is 10% smaller than the value
∆w
0,eq
found in (18) does not yield a lower value for the ratio r
R,GMNIA
.
I
f
a
lower value is obtained, the procedure should be iterated to find the lowest value of the ratio
r
R,GMNIA
as the amplitude is varied.
(21)
If follower load effects are possible, either they should be incorporated in the analysis, or it
should be verified that their influence is negligible.
(22) For each calculated value of the imperfect elastic-plastic buckling resistance r
R,GMNIA
, the ratio
of the imperfect to perfect resistance (r
R,GMNIA
/r
R,GMNA
) should be determined and compared with
valu
es of r
R
found using the procedures of 8.5 and Annex D, to verify that the chosen geometric
i
m
p
e
rfection has a deleterious effect that is comparable with that obtained from a lower bound to test
results.
NOTE: Where the resistance is dominated by plasticity effects, the ratio (r
R,GMNIA
/r
R,GMNA
) will be
much larger than the elastic imperfection reduction factor
α
, and no close comparison can be
expected. However, where the resistance is controlled by buckling phenomena that are substantially
elastic, the ratio (r
R,GMNIA
/r
R,GMNA
) should be only a little higher than the value determined by hand
calculation, and the factors leading to the higher value should be considered.
(23) The reliability of the numerically determined imperfect elastic-plastic buckling resistance ratio
r
R,GMNIA
should be checked by one of the following alternative methods:
a) by using the same program to calculate values r
R,GMNIA
,
check
for other shell buckling cases for
which characteristic buckling resistance ratio values r
Rk,known,check
are known. The check
c
a
s
e
s should use basically similar imperfection assumptions and be similar in their buckling
controlling parameters (such as relative shell slenderness, postbuckling behaviour,
imperfection-sensitivity, geometric nonlinearity and material behaviour);
b) by comparison of calculated values (r
R,GMNIA
,check
) against test results (r
R,test,known,check
).
The
check cases should satisfy the same similarity conditions given in (a).
NOTE 1: Other shell buckling cases for which the characteristic buckling resistance ratio values
r
Rk,known,check
are known may be found from the scientific literature on shell buckling. It should be
noted that the hand calculations of 8.5 and Annex D are derived as general lower bounds on test
results, and these sometimes lead to such low assessed values for the characteristic buckling resistance
that they cannot be easily obtained numerically.
NOTE 2: Where test results are used, it should be established that the geometric imperfections present
in the test may be expected to be representative of those that will occur in practical construction.
(24) Depending on the results of the reliability checks, the calibration factor k
GMNIA
should be
evaluated, as appropriate, from:
Rk,known,check R,test,known,check
GMNIA GMNIA
R,GMNIA,check R,GMNIA,check
or
r r
k k
r r
= =
...
(8.31)
where:
r
Rk,known,check
is the known characteristic value;
r
R,test,known,check
is the known test result;
r
R,GMNIA,check
is the calculation outcome for the check buckling case or the test
buck
ling case, as appropriate.