Imperfection Sensitivity Checklist
Review prompts for assessing imperfection sensitivity — imperfection shape, magnitude, knockdown factors and collapse load sensitivity.
Purpose
For checking that imperfection sensitivity has been assessed for buckling-critical structures.
Assessment
- Is the structure classified as imperfection-sensitive (thin shells, stiffened panels)? — If so, eigenvalue alone is insufficient
- Is the imperfection shape based on the critical buckling mode, not a default? — Mode-shaped imperfection is standard
- Is the imperfection magnitude based on manufacturing tolerance, not arbitrary? — Or a standardised value
- Has the collapse load been computed for at least two imperfection magnitudes? — To establish the sensitivity curve
- If a knockdown factor is used, is it from an approved source (NASA SP-8007, etc.)? — Not estimated