NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPRESSED PLATES WITH A CUT-OUT OPERATING IN THE GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR RANGE

This paper presents the results of a numerical analysis conducted to investigate uniformly compressed rectangular plates with different cut-out sizes. Made of high strength steel, the plates are articulatedly supported on their shorter edges. The FEM analysis examines the nonlinear stability of these structures in the post-buckling state, where the mode of buckling is forced to ensure their stable behaviour. The numerical computations are performed within the geometrically nonlinear range until the yield point is reached. The investigation involves determining the effect of cut-out sizes on elastic properties of the plates with respect to service loads. The numerical analysis is conducted using the ABAQUS software.