LIMIT ANALYSIS OF CIRCULAR PLATES SUBJECTED TO ARBITRARY ROTATIONAL SYMMETRICAL LOADINGS

The lower bound technique of limit analysis has been implemented in or der to calculate the critical load factor for loadings on circular pla tes. The obtained results are applicable to any rotational symmetric l oading on clamped or simply supported plates. Both the square and Tres ca yield criteria have been considered in the analysis. It has been sh own that the calculated lower bound for the critical load factor is th e exact answer for the considered problem. In order to perform the cal culations, the loading function is expanded in the form of a power ser ies and the critical load factor calculated by use of a numerical tech nique. Finally, variation of this factor with the loading function has been illustrated.