BUCKLING OF SHEAR-DEFORMABLE PLATES USING THE P-VERSION OF THE FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD

In this paper, the p-version of the finite element method is introduced for problems of plate buckling with the inclusion of shear deformations. For thick plates, the thickness of the plate comes into consideration as the plate deforms. Classical Kirchoff plate bending formulations neglect the effect of thickness in the deformation. Reissner-Mindlin plate theory is used to develop the appropriate expressions governing shear deformable plates. It will be shown numerically that the p-version finite element method is an effective tool-for this class of problems. Numerical examples will be provided, including square and rectangular plates to provide a means through which validation is satisfied.