• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-162
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• 1996

A postbuckling analysis is presented for a simply supported, moderately thick rectangular plate subjected to combined axial compression and uniform temperature loading and resting on a two-parameter elastic foundation. The two cases of thermal postbuckling of initially compressed plates and of compressive postbuckling of initially heated plates are considered. The initial geometrical imperfection of the plate is taken into account. The formulations are based on the Reissner-Mindlin plate theory considering the first order shear deformation effect, and including the plate-foundation interaction and thermal effect. The analysis uses a deflection-type perturbation technique to determine the buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths. Numerical examples cover the performances of perfect and imperfect, moderately thick plates resting on Winkler or Pasternak-type elastic foundations. Typical results are presented in dimensionless graphical form.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.85-106
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• 2015

Postbuckling of thick plates made of functionally graded material (FGM) subjected to in-plane compressive, thermal and thermomechanical loads is investigated in this work. It is assumed that the plate is in contact with a Pasternak-type elastic foundation during deformation. Thermomechanical non-homogeneous properties are considered to be temperature independent, and graded smoothly by the distribution of power law across the thickness in the thickness in terms of the volume fractions of constituents. By employing the higher order shear deformation plate theory together the non-linear von-Karman strain-displacement relations, the equilibrium and compatibility equations of imperfect FGM plates are derived. The Galerkin technique is used to determine the buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths for simply supported plates. Numerical examples are presented to show the influences of power law index, foundation stiffness and imperfection on the buckling and postbuckling loading capacity of the plates.