Elastic Buckling Analysis of Perforated Thin-Walled Structures by the Isoparametric Spline Finite Strip Method (No. R879)

Abstract

In previous reports [1, 2], the isoparametric spline finite strip method was successfully applied to the in-plane stress and bending linear elastic analysis of perforated plates, and to the linear elastic analysis of folded plate structures [3]. In the present report the application of the isoparametric spline finite strip method is further extended to the elastic buckling analysis of perforated folded plate structures. The general theory of the isoparametric spline finite strip method is briefly introduced. The kinematics assumptions, strain-displacement and constitutive relations of the Mindlin plate theory are described and applied to the spline finite strip method. The corresponding matrix formulation is utilised in the equilibrium and stability equations to derive the stiffness and stability matrices. A number of numerical examples of flat and folded perforated plate structures illustrate the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method.