Evaluation of Tension Field Theory for Wrinkling Analysis With Respect to the Post-Buckling Study

Abstract

A comparative study of two representative wrinkling theories, a bifurcation theory and a tension field theory, is carried out for quantitative evaluation of the tension field theory regarding wrinkling analysis. Results obtained from the bifurcation theory show the limitations of tension field theory on the wrinkling analysis. Existence of compressive stresses caused by wrinkling phenomena, which is not accounted for tension field theory, is quantitatively presented. Considering strain energy due to these compressive stresses and geometrical boundary constraints, it is clarified that there are regions, in which the tension field theory is not properly applied.