POST CRITICAL-BEHAVIOR OF BIAXIALLY COMPRESSED PLATES ON ELASTIC-FOUNDATION

This paper describes a total Lagrangian finite element procedure capable of predicting the geometric nonlinear postbuckling response of initially flat rectangular plates resting on elastic foundation. The nonlinear stiffness matrices are derived using the minimum potential energy theorem. The postbuckling response is predicted by a step-by-step linear incremental procedure. Numerical studies are carried out on square plates resting on elastic foundations with different boundary conditions, subjected to isotropic axial compression. A parametric study has also been carried out involving a range of plate-foundation stiffness ratios.