Stability Analysis of Axially Compressed Rectangular SSSS & CSCS Plates Using MATLAB Programming

Abstract

Two thin rectangular plates, one simply supported on all sides (SSSS), and the other plate simply supported and fixed on alternate opposite sides(CSCS), were analyzed for buckling or stability. Polynomial series were used to formulate shape functions for plates loaded axially along the x- axis. The shape functions were used in Ritz energy equation to obtain the critical buckling loads 'Nx' for the plates studied. Computer programs based on the formulated critical buckling load equation were developed in MATLAB language for easier and faster stability analysis of aforementioned plates. In order to validate the results obtained from the computer program, comparison was made with other results from literature. For simply supported plate with aspect ratios of 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0, the maximum percentage difference is 0.02%. And for the plate with alternate opposite simply supported and fixed edge, the maximum percentage difference from the computed values of 'n' and those in literature is -0.19%. In both cases, the percentage differences are less than 1% which is consider very insignificant. Therefore, the developed MATLAB programs can be used to analyze accurately the critical buckling load of SSSS and CSCS plates.