Explicit incremental matrices for the postbuckling analysis of thin plates with small initial curvature

Abstract

The postbuckling behaviour of thin plates is an important phenomenon in the design of thin plated structures. In reality plates possess small imperfections and the behaviour of such imperfect plates is of great interest. To numerically study the postbuckling behaviour of imperfect plates explicit incremental or secant matrices have been presented in this paper. These matrices can be used in combination with any thin plate element. The secant matrices are shown to be very accurate in tracing the postbuckling behaviour of thin plates.