The imperfection data bank, a mean to obtain realistic buckling loads

Despite decades of intensive research work most shells continue to be designed by the so-called Lower Bound Design Philosophy which has been in use since the turn of the century. It is shown that by collecting the data of extensive initial imperfection surveys on full scale structures in Initial Imperfection Data Banks improved design criteria can be developed. Especially the use of the Monte Carlo Method to derive reliability functions (based on measured initial imperfection distributions that are characteristic of the different fabrication processes), may finally provide the practicing structural engineers with a design procedure that incorporates the concept of imperfection sensitivity in a rational manner. (orig.)