Abstract
In this paper, the effects of different loading paths of axial tension and external pressure on the collapse pressure of sandwich tubes are studied by experiments and finite element models. The difference of the two loading paths is investigated. Eight experiments were carried out to study the influence of different loading paths on pipeline collapse pressure under the same geometric and material parameters. Parameterization studies have been carried out, and the results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The test and finite element results show that the loading path of external pressure first and then the axial tension (P→T) is more dangerous; the collapse pressure of the sandwich pipe is smaller than the other. Through parametric analysis, the influence of the axial tension and the diameter-to-thickness ratio of the inner and outer pipe on the collapse pressure under different loading paths are studied.