Semi-Analytical Finite Strip Transfer Matrix Method for Buckling Analysis of Rectangular Thin Plates

Abstract

Plates and shells are main components of modern engineering structures, whose buckling analysis has been focused by researchers. In this investigation, rectangular thin plates with loaded edges simply supported can be discretized by semi-analytical finite strip technology. Then the control equations of the strip elements of the buckling plate will be rewritten as the transfer equations by transfer matrix method. A new approach, namely semi-analytical Finite Strip Transfer Matrix Method, is developed for the buckling analysis of plates. This method requires no global stiffness matrix of the system, reduces the system matrix order, and improves the computational efficiency. Comparing with some theoretical results and FEM’s results of two illustrations (the plates and the ribbed plates) under six boundary conditions, the method is proved to be reliable and effective.