Efficient computation for lower bound dynamic buckling loads of imperfect systems under impact loading

This gaper is concerned with the computation of lower bound dynamic bucklin g loads of discrete imperfect systems under impact loading. An extended sys tem that is based on the energy criterion for establishing the lower bound dynamic buckling loads without solving the highly non-linear initial-value problems is proposed. For the extended system, the newly introduced paramet ers are regular solutions and thus standard methods can be used to compute them. From the solutions, one can obtain directly the lower bound dynamic b uckling loads without tracing the postbuckling equilibrium paths. Two numer ical examples are given to show the characteristics and effectiveness of th is algorithm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.