Buckling of Multilayer Plates by Finite Elements

Abstract

A method for determining the critical in-plane stresses for multilayer sandwich plates is developed. Stress funcitons are assumed in the finite element development of the stiffness of a multilayer plate element. A stiffness modifying matrix is then used to formulate an eigenvalue problem, which when solved yields the critical in-plane stresses. This procedure facilitates the solution of multilayer plates of varying boundary conditions and in-plane stress distribution.