Methods of finite element analysis of arbitrary buckling forms of sandwichplates and shells

Two statements of the problem of arbitrary buckling forms (BFs) (including synphasic, antiphasic, mixed flexural, flexural-shear, and shear forms in t he tangential directions) of general-form sandwich shells and two schemes o f its solution by the FEM are given. The first of the schemes is based on t he use of refined linear equations for determination of the precritical str ess-strain state and linearized equations of neutral equilibrium with all p arametric addends necessary to determine the critical loads and reveal the possible BFs. The second one uses the general geometrically nonlinear relat ions of elasticity theory for investigation of the whole deformation proces s up to buckling in terms of a modified incremental (stepwise) statement of the problem. Examples of solution of particular problems are given.