Analytical procedure for determining critical load of plates with variable boundary conditions

An analytical procedure for determining critical load, exerted on rectangular plates subjected to arbitrary external load under variable boundary conditions, is presented in the paper. The procedure used in critical load determination is based on the Ritz energy method. Because of complexity of mathematical model used, the case of locally distributed compressive stress is analyzed. The applicability and high level of accuracy of the method presented in the paper is proven through comparison of buckling coefficients and analysis results. This comparison is made using examples of plates with variable boundary conditions.