POSTBUCKLING OF GEOMETRICALLY IMPERFECT SHEAR-DEFORMABLE FLAT PANELS UNDER COMBINED THERMAL AND COMPRESSIVE EDGE LOADINGS

The static post-buckling of simply-supported flat panels exposed to a stationary nonuniform temperature field and subjected to a system of s ubcritical in-plane compressive edge loads is investigated. The study is performed within a refined theory of composite laminated plates inc orporating the effect of transverse shear and the geometric nonlineari ties. The influence played by a number of effects, among them transver se shear deformation, initial geometric imperfections, the character o f the in-plane boundary conditions and thickness ratio are studied and a series of conclusions are outlined. The influence played by the com plete temperature field (i.e., the uniform through thickness and thick ness-wise gradient) as compared to the one induced by only the uniform one, is discussed and the peculiarities of the resulting post-bucklin g behaviors are enlightened.