Analytical model for buckling analysis of the plates under patch and concentrated loads

The problem of elastic stability of rectangular plates with different boundary conditions under wheel and patch loading is analyzed using Ritz energy technique. Basic analytical model with two specific types of boundary conditions, designed to simulate standard experimental sample, is tested. High quality of presented analytical results, proved through comparison with data obtained by numerical methods, is due to introduction of the exact stress functions of Mathieu's theory of elasticity and adequate deflection functions. Hence, the conditions for analyzing the advanced models with different levels of complexity and for realization of comprehensive parametric study are created for these load types. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.