Analytical buckling solutions for mindlin plates involving free edges

This paper investigates the buckling behaviour of rectangular Mindlin plates having two parallel edges simply supported, one edge free and the remaining edge free, simply supported or clamped. The proper boundary conditions at free edges subjected to in-plane loads have been examined. The buckling analysis is performed by applying the concept of state space to the Levy-type solution method to obtain the closed-form critical loads from the governing differential equations. The results, where possible, are compared with existing solutions to verify the validity of the solution method. The differences between buckling factors obtained with the appropriate and inappropriate free edge conditions are reported. Several design charts representing the essential features of the critical load characteristics of rectangular plates with two opposite edges simply supported at least one free edge are obtained. The critical loads can be determined from the design charts without difficulty.