• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.541-552
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• 1996

This paper is concerned with the structural optimization problem of maximizing the compressive buckling load of orthotropic rectangular plates for a given volume of material. The optimality condition is first derived via variational calculus. It states that the thickness distribution is proportional to the strain energy density contrary to popular claims of constant strain energy density at the optimum. An engineers physical meaning of the optimality condition would be to make the average strain energy density with respect to the depth a constant. A double cosine thickness varying plate and a double sine thickness varying plate are then fine tuned in a one parameter optimization using the Rayleigh-Ritz method of analysis. Results for simply supported square plates indicate an increase of 89% in capacity for an orthotropic plate having 100% of its fibers in $0^{\circ}$ direction.