Large Deflection Theory for Orthotropic Rectangular Plates Subjected to Edge Compression

Abstract

Abstract A theory is presented of the large deflections of orthotropic (orthogonally anisotropic) rectangular plates when the plate is initially slightly curved and its boundaries are subjected to the conditions prevailing in edgewise compression tests. Results are given of computations carried out for four different combinations of load and lamination in Fiberglas panels. These theoretical results duplicate the substantial variations in the load-strain and load-deflection diagrams obtained earlier in experiments at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.