Blackbird69 said
The lockerby report concluded also that the pressure on the back section even as an open tube would not cause the structure to fail.
Simple pressure probably won't cause complete structural failure - though there are quite a few accidents where differential pressure has caused an ultimate failure of the aircraft or significant damage. Examples are
Turkish Airlines Flight 981 - lost cargo door
American Airline Flight 96 - lost cargo door
On similar major incidents to MH17, the disruptive event caused immediate separation of part of the aircraft and subsequent disintegration of the rest due to aerodynamic overloads.
PA-103 (Lockerbie)
TWA-800 ( US)
Incidentally, in both of the above incidents, the main part of the aircraft continued flying until ground impact or detachment of wings etc.
MH17 appears to have done the same thing with late detachment of the tail after loss of the cockpit and 1st class cabin early on.