Buckling and vibration of anisotropic or isotropic plate assemblies under combined loadings

This paper describes the underlying theory, and a general-purpose computer program, VIPASA, for determining the critical buckling stresses or natural frequencies of vibration of thin prismatic structures, consisting of a series of plates rigidly connected together along longitudinal edges. Each plate may be either isotropic or anisotropic and may carry a basic stress system consisting of longitudinal and transverse direct stress combined with shear. The structure is assumed to be subjected to a “dead load” system which does not cause buckling; in addition a “live load” system, defined in magnitude by a single load factor, may be applied and the value of the load factor at buckling is determined. Alternatively the natural frequencies of vibration of the structure when subjected to the dead load system are determined. Any number of critical load factors or natural frequencies can be obtained. The theory is based upon the assumption that all modes are sinusoidal, in the sense that all three components of displacement vary sinusoidally along any longitudinal line, but phase differences are incorporated to allow for the effects of anisotropy and shear. Apart from this assumption no further approximations are made other than those inherent in thin plate theory.