THERMOMECHANICAL POSTBUCKLING OF IMPERFECT MODERATELY THICK PLATES ONNONLINEAR ELASTIC FOUNDATIONS

A postbuckling analysis is presented for a moderately thick rectangula r plate subjected to combined axial compression and uniform temperatur e loading, and resting on a softening nonlinear elastic foundation. Th e cases of (1) thermal postbuckling of initially compressed plates and (2) compressive post-buckling of initially heated plates are consider ed. The initial geometrical imperfections of the plates are taken into account. Formulations are based on Reissner-Mindlin plate theory, con sidering first-order shear deformation effects, and including plate-fo undation interaction and thermal effects. The analysis uses a deflecti on-type perturbation technique to determine buckling loads and postbuc kling equilibrium paths. Numerical examples include the performance of perfect and imperfect, moderately thick plates resting on softening n onlinear elastic foundations. Typical results are presented in dimensi onless graphical form.