Plate Buckling Notes

INTRODUCTION TO PLATES AND PLATE BUCKLING
[Reading Bulson, P.S. The Stability of Flat Plates, Elsevier, New York, 1969; Timoshenko and WoinowskiKrieger, Theory of Plates and Shells, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, NY, 1959; ]
Plates are a type of structural element commonly used to span areas and support
vertical loads e.g. floor or roof slabs. They are bounded by parallel plane
surfaces and are usually of a uniform thickness that is small compared with the
plan dimensions. They also constitute major components of I-beams, plate girders
and box girders, and it is because of this role that we are studying their behaviour
in this course. Plate behaviour is a relatively advanced topic in structural
mechanics and design, so the treatment here is necessarily abbreviated in many
places.
INTERNAL
ACTIONS UNDER TRANSVERSE LOADING
The figure to the right shows a rectangular plate, simply

supported on all edges (i.e. knife-edge supports resisting
up and down movement but allowing rotation perpendicular
to the edge).
Loading may consist of point loads, W, line loads and

distributed loads, q(x,y), all acting perpendicular to the
plate surface.
Considering the deflection of the two shaded (beam-like)
strips it can be seen that the element defined by their
intersection will bend to different radii of curvature in
the xz and yz planes, and the four corners of the element
will have different deflections.
Mx
z
p
su
ly p
Sim
BENDING MOMENT
es
dg
e
d
rte
po
y
z
LATERALLY LOADED PLATE
My
q(x,y)
Myx
y
Mxy
TWISTING MOMENT
Sx
Sy
TRANSVERSE SHEAR
ACTIONS IN LATERALLY LOADED PLATE
The resulting internal actions will consist of:
Bending moments Mx and My

Similar to bending moments in a beam. They are measured as moments per unit length of plate,
kN-m/m.
Twisting moments Mxy and Myx

These result from the fact that adjacent imaginary strips deflect and therefore rotate by
different amounts hence tending to cause relative rotation between the side faces of the strips
with the twisting moments resisting this tendency. Also measured in kN-m/m.
Through-thickness shear force, Sx and Sy.

Similar to shear force in a beam, but generally small in magnitude.
Plate_Buckling_Notes.doc
p1
Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005
MOMENT-CURVATURE
RELATIONSHIP: SIMILARITY TO BEAMS
The moment curvature relationship for a beam is (see CIVIL 210 notes)
M(z) = EI
d2 v
dz 2
(1)
Plate moments are related to plate curvatures in a similar way:
Where D =
2w
2w
Mx = D 2 + 2
y
x
(2)
2w
2w
My = D 2 + 2
x
y
(3)
Et 3
, is the plate rigidity, a measure of the flexural stiffness of the plate.
12(1 2 )
D is analagous to EI, the flexural stiffness of a beam, and their

similarity can be seen by considering a plate strip of unit width.
1
t
1 t 3 Et 3
For the strip, EI = E
=
(close to D in value).
12
12
1
. Since 0 < < 0.5 for all
1 2
materials, a plate will be stiffer than a simple deduction based on beam theory would suggest. The
difference results from the effect of Poissons ratio and the two-dimesional nature of plates.
However, plate rigidity is NOT quite the same as a beam, as they differ by
Consider a beam of rectangular cross section subjected to a sagging bending

moment. Over the upper half of the beam the longitudinal compressive strain z
will be accompanied by a transverse strain -z causing expansion. The reverse

happens in the lower half, which contracts..
At any point y in the cross section
y, v
neutral
surface
x = z
y
=
R
y
=
(R / )
Thus the section is bent in the transverse direction into a circular arc with radius
R/.
R/ is referred to as the anticlastic curvature. Anticlastic simply means a surface curved in two
directions. Because the beam is relatively thin in the x direction it can easily
doubly curved surface
deform into this transverse curvature and no additional stresses result. The
(anticlastic curvature)
phenomenon is readily demonstrated with a rubber eraser.
If a plate slice is subject to bending it will have the same tendency as a beam to
expand and contract sideways, but will be constrained from doing so by the
adjacent plate material. Additional stresses result which contribute to the
moment resistance of the plate, visible in the 2nd term inside the brackets
expansion prevented
in equations (2) and (3).
t
p2
GOVERNING
EQUATION FOR LATERALLY LOADED PLATE
BEAM
q(z)
For comparison we first consider a beam under transverse load

q(z)
Differentiating (1):
Subst.
dM
=S,
dz
Differentiating again,
Subst.
dS
= q(z) ,
dZ
z
v
dM
dv
= EI 3 ,
dz
dz
S = EI
d3 v
dz 3
dS
d4v
= EI
,
dz
dz 4
EI
d4v
= q(z)
dz 4
(4)
The governing equation for a beam under transverse loading.

PLATE
With suitable assumptions, a similar governing equation can be deduced for the bending of a plate under
transverse load. One of the simpler derivations follows from the Kirchhoff assumptions:
1. Deflections are small (less than the plate thickness)
2. The middle plane of the plate does not stretch during bending and remains a neutral surface
(similar to the neutral axis of a beam).
3. Normals to the middle plane remain straight, normal and inextensional (so that transverse normal
and shearing strains may be neglected). The equivalent of the plane sections remain plane
assumption in beam bending.
4. Transverse normal stresses are small compared with other normal stresses and may be
neglected.
In addition to (2) and (3), the twisting moments are related to plate deformation by
2w
xy
Mxy = D(1 )
For equilibrium can show that
and
Mxy
x
Myx
y
My
(5)
Sy = 0
(6)
Mx
Sx = 0
x
(7)
Differentiating and combining (6) and (7) leads to

2 Mx
x
and for loading q(x,y),
q=
2 Mx
+2
2 Mxy
xy
2 My
y
Sx Sy
+
x
y
(8)
Sx Sy
, so that (8) becomes
+
y
x
2 Mxy
2 My
= q
(9)
4w
4w
4w
+2 2 2 +
= q/D
4
x y
x
y 4
(10)
x 2
+2
xy
y 2
Finally, substituting from (2), (3) and (5):
p3
(10) is the celebrated biharmonic equation the governing equation for elastic plate bending analysis. It is
the plate equivalent of the beam equation (4). The first and third terms represent bending of longitudinal
and transverse strips, whilst the middle term accounts for twisting action. It can also be written using
the bi-harmonic operator,
4w = q/D
(11)
The notation is built on repeated application of the Laplacian operator 2 (Nabla squared):
2
2
4 q = 2 ( 2 )q(x, y) = 2 + 2
y
x
4
4
4
= 4 + 2 2 2 + 4
x y
y
x
2
2
+
x 2 y 2
q( x, y)
q(x, y)
Unfortunately the plate equation is much more difficult to solve than the corresponding beam equation.
The texts cited at the beginning of these notes present solutions for a range of plate shapes, boundary
conditions and loading. We turn now to problems of buckling and failure the .major objectives of this
excursion into plate behaviour.
IN-PLANE LOADING AND BUCKLING

INTERNAL
ACTIONS
If forces are applied at the edges of a plate, possibly in addition

to lateral loading, the possibility of buckling arises, with
substantial changes in behaviour.
The figure shows normal and shearing forces applied to the plate
edges. Their effect will be to cause in-plane deformations and
corresponding actions (unless buckling occurs).
S
N
The internal actions shown are sometimes referred to as

membrane actions and consist of
IN PLANE LOADING
In-plane normal forces, Nx and Ny

Similar to axial force in a column. Expressed as force per unit
length of plate, kN/m.
In-plane shearing forces, Nxy and Nyx

Also expressed as force/unit length, kN/m.
BUCKLING
Ny
Nyx
Nx
Nxy
MEMBRANE ACTIONS DUE

TO IN-PLANE LOADING
LOADING
This case corresponds roughly to that of a pin-ended

Euler column buckling under axial compressive loading.
N
rigid end bars
The elastic buckling load is given by
where
D=
2D
b
OF A SIMPLY-SUPPORTED PLATE UNDER COMPRESSIVE EDGE
NCR = K
(12)
Et 3
, the plate rigidity,
12(1 2 )
t
N
a
nb
K=
+
,
a
nb
all edges
simply supported
b
PLATE BUCKLING - 1 HALF-WAVE
n = number of buckle half-waves.

p4
12
Buckling coefficient, K
n=1
n=2
n=3
n=4
0
0
Plate aspect ratio, a/b
The variation of K with aspect ratio, a/b, is shown above for various numbers of buckle waves
It can be seen that the minimum value of K is 4, and this occurs whenever the plate length a, is n x b, the
plate width. Thus a long plate prefers to buckle into roughly square segments as shown in the figure
below.
NCR
all edges simply supported
a=nxb
NCR
BUCKLING MODE OF A LONG PLATE
Similar solutions can be found for plates with different support and loading conditions (e.g. some edges
clamped or free, shear loading rather than direct compression, etc).
The lefthand figure on the next page shows buckling coefficients for various support conditions, and the
figure on the right shows buckling coefficients for a plate loaded in pure shear.
p5
Buckling coefficients for axially loaded plates with

various support conditions
Buckling coefficients for plate subject to

in-plane shear loading
Buckling Load
NCR = K
2 Et 3
12b(1 2 )
SCR = K
2 Et 3
12b(1 2 )
Buckling Stress
CR =
NCR
bt
=K
2E t

12(1 2 ) b
POST-BUCKLING
CR =
SCR
bt
=K
2E
t
2
12(1 ) b
BEHAVIOUR
Commencement of buckling in a thin elastic plate does not immediately result in failure. The buckled plate
remains stable and can resist loads well above the elastic buckling limit without deflecting excessively (in
contrast to a slender column which can carry little more than its elastic critical load before lateral
deflections become excessive), as illustrated in the next figure. This is because the plate buckling
deformations are accompanied by stretching of the middle surface. The post-buckling stress distribution
and the extent to which the middle surface stretching influences post-buckling behaviour depends on the
support conditions at the edges of the plate. Two cases are illustrated in the next figure.
(a) The unloaded edges are free to move horizontally but constrained to remain straight.
(b) The unloaded edges are free to move horizontally
p6
av
max
av
(b)
N/Ncr
(a)
sides free
to wave
sides remain
straight
slender
column
central deflection
Distribution of post-buckling stress and load-deflection behaviour for different edge conditions
If:
cr = the (uniform) applied stress, Ncr/bt, at the critical load,

av = the average applied stress after buckling,
cr = the longitudinal strain just prior to buckling, and
av = the average longitudinal strain after buckling,
a plot of av/ cr against av/ cr reveals the characteristic
change in the apparent elastic modulus as the plate moves into
the post-buckling range.
The apparent post-buckling modulus of the plate, E*, (i.e. the
post-buckling stiffness) is significant, about 0.4E for plate
sides free to wave, 0.5E for straight sides free to move, and
0.75E for plate sides straight and not free to move.
Consequently it is not unusual for plates to be designed to
operate in the post-buckling range. The only disadvantages are
the modest reduction in stiffness and visible buckling
deformation.
av/ cr
E 0.5E
*
av/cr
Ultimate strength, failure
Redistribution of in-plane stresses after buckling continues with increasing applied load. Stress in the
stiffer sections of the plate, near the supported edges, continues to increase, while stress in the buckled
sections, such as the middle region shown in the next figure, fails to increase. The process continues until
yield stress is reached near the plate edges or as the result of bending stress associated with the
buckling deformation. Yield then tends to spread rapidly and the plate soon fails.
The following figure shows the distribution of stress at the failure load. The precise nature of the
redistributoin will depend on the edge support conditions, with stiffer supports attracting greater
proportions of the stress.
p7
y
cr
t
b
STRESS RE-DISTRIBUTION
AT FAILURE
EFFECTIVE WIDTH CONCEPT

Theoretical calculation of plate failure loads is difficult. Consequently we introduce a simplified approach
based on the concept of effective width.
Von Karman proposed that the nonlinear stress distribution across a plate at failure (diagram above and
left diagram below) be replaced by a uniform stress distributed over two reduced strips adjacent to the
supported edges, with the central buckled region ignored.
be /2
actual stress
distribution
be /2
y
av
cr
b
contribution of central
section ignored
t
actual cross-section
effective cross-section
He further proposed that the strips be considered together as a rectangular plate of width be, and that
failure occurs when the critical buckling stress of the equivalent plate reaches y.
From equation (12)
cr =
NCR
bt
K 2 E t

12(1 2 ) b
(13)
For the equivalent width plate, at failure cr = y , so

K 2 E t
y =
12(1 2 ) be
(13) (14) gives
be
=
b
cr
y
(14)
(15)
p8
Thus be < b only when cr < y.

Considering the case of a rectangular steel
plate simply supported on all edges:
yield before buckling - buckling before yielding be < b
be = b
K=4
E=200,000MPa
y=300MPa
=0.3
cr /y
Using (13), plot cr/y against b/t:
It can be seen that when b / t 49 , yielding

precedes buckling and no reduction in b is
needed.
When b/t > 49 we need to reduce b such that

be / t 49 (the maximum value for which
20
30
40
50
60
70
b/t
yield stress can be reached without buckling).

YIELD
LIMIT
The ratio b/t is known as the plate slenderness ratio, and the limiting value of 49 is known as the plate
slenderness yield limit. The yield limit can be obtained directly by substituting cr = y in (13) and
rearranging to obtain
b
=

t yield lim it
K 2 E
.
12(1 2 ) y
(16)
Plate supported on both edges
Substituting K=4, E=200,000, y=300 and =0.3 gives

b
= 49.1 .

t yield lim it
Plate supported on one edge and free on the other
Other support conditions are taken into account by using the appropriate buckling coefficient, K (see p.6).
For one edge supported and the other free, K=0.5 (approximately this is for an aspect ratio a/b=5).
Other data is the same as previous case and gives
b
= 17.4 .

t yield lim it
DETERMINATION
OF EFFECTIVE AREA
The effective area of a steel column, Ae is the sum of the effective area, bet, of each flat plate element
composing the cross-section.
b
The effective width of each flat plate element be = t
(be b) .
t yield lim it
Implementation in the Steel Structures Standard, NZS3404
Plate element slenderness ratio, e:

NZS3404 uses the symbol e for the plate slenderness ratio and brings in a correction term for yield
stress other than 250MPa:
e =
b y
t 250
(17)
p9
Plate element yield slenderness limit, ey:

Limiting values based on equation (16), and including modifications for residual stresses are tabulated in
Table 6.2.4, reproduced below.
Webs of I-beams are regarded as plates supported on two edges (i.e. at the junctions with the flanges),
whereas the flanges are regarded as plates supported on one edge (by the web) and free on the other.
The diagram below provides further explanation.
Section description:
Hot-rolled
UB, UC
Heavily welded
BOX
Cold-formed
CHS
Cold-formed
RHS
d0
Plate element widths:
Flange outstand b1
b1
b1
d1
b1
b2
d1
16
d1
14
Flange b2 supported
along both edges
Web d1 supported
along both edges
b2
45
Diameter d0
35
40
35
40
82
Table of yield limit values, ey, from NZS3404.
p10
EXAMPLES
1.
Effective area of a 310UB32.
B = 149mm
T = 8.0
t = 5.5
b1 = 69
d1 = 282
Ag = 4080mm2
y = 320MPa
T
b1
d1
t
Web:
e =
use
d1
t
de = d1
y
250
ey
e
282 320
= 58 > ey ( 45, from Table)
5.5 250
= 282
45
= 219mm
58
Flange outstand:
e =
use
b1
t
y
250
69 320
= 9.8 < ey (16, fromTable )
8 250
be = b1 (i.e. no reduction in flange width)
149
Effective area:
Ae = Ag 63 5.5 = 3734 mm 2
219/2 = 110mm
63mm
Form factor:
kf =
219/2 = 110mm
Ae
3734
=
= 0.915
Ag
4080
Effective cross-section for axial load
NOTE
The area of web that is deducted is taken from the centre leaving an effective cross-section with a
63mm gap as shown in the sketch above.
1.
Effective area of a 1200WB249 (welded beam)

B = 275mm
T = 25
t = 16
b1 = 129.5
d1 = 1120
y = 300MPa (web), 280MPa (flanges)
B
T
b1
d1
t
Web:
e =
use
d1
t
de = d1
y
250
ey
e
1120 300
= 76.7 > ey (35 for heavily welded sec tion)
16
250
= 1120
35
= 511mm
76.7
p11
Flange outstand:
275
e =
use
b1
t
y
250
129.5 280
= 5.48 < ey (14, fromTable )
25
250
be = b1 (i.e. no reduction in flange width)
Effective area:
511/2 = 256mm
609mm
511/2 = 256mm
Ae = 275 25 2 + 511 * 16 = 21929mm 2
Form factor:
Effective cross-section for axial load
Ag = 275 25 2 + 1120 16 = 31670mm 2

kf =
Ae
21929
=
= 0.692
Ag
31670
p12

Plate Buckling Notes

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Plate Buckling Notes

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INTRODUCTION TO PLATES AND PLATE BUCKLING

ACTIONS UNDER TRANSVERSE LOADING

The figure to the right shows a rectangular plate, simply

Loading may consist of point loads, W, line loads and

LATERALLY LOADED PLATE

ACTIONS IN LATERALLY LOADED PLATE

The resulting internal actions will consist of:

Bending moments Mx and My

Twisting moments Mxy and Myx

Through-thickness shear force, Sx and Sy.

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

RELATIONSHIP: SIMILARITY TO BEAMS

Plate moments are related to plate curvatures in a similar way:

D is analagous to EI, the flexural stiffness of a beam, and their

Consider a beam of rectangular cross section subjected to a sagging bending

will be accompanied by a transverse strain -z causing expansion. The reverse

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

EQUATION FOR LATERALLY LOADED PLATE

For comparison we first consider a beam under transverse load

The governing equation for a beam under transverse loading.

Differentiating and combining (6) and (7) leads to

and for loading q(x,y),

Finally, substituting from (2), (3) and (5):

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

IN-PLANE LOADING AND BUCKLING

If forces are applied at the edges of a plate, possibly in addition

The internal actions shown are sometimes referred to as

In-plane normal forces, Nx and Ny

In-plane shearing forces, Nxy and Nyx

MEMBRANE ACTIONS DUE

This case corresponds roughly to that of a pin-ended

The elastic buckling load is given by

OF A SIMPLY-SUPPORTED PLATE UNDER COMPRESSIVE EDGE

n = number of buckle half-waves.

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

Plate aspect ratio, a/b

all edges simply supported

BUCKLING MODE OF A LONG PLATE

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

Buckling coefficients for axially loaded plates with

Buckling coefficients for plate subject to

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

cr = the (uniform) applied stress, Ncr/bt, at the critical load,

Ultimate strength, failure

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

EFFECTIVE WIDTH CONCEPT

For the equivalent width plate, at failure cr = y , so

(13) (14) gives

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

Thus be < b only when cr < y.

Using (13), plot cr/y against b/t:

It can be seen that when b / t 49 , yielding

When b/t > 49 we need to reduce b such that

yield stress can be reached without buckling).

Plate supported on both edges

Substituting K=4, E=200,000, y=300 and =0.3 gives

Plate supported on one edge and free on the other

Implementation in the Steel Structures Standard, NZS3404

Plate element slenderness ratio, e:

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005

Plate element yield slenderness limit, ey:

Plate element widths:

Table of yield limit values, ey, from NZS3404.

Copyright J.W. Butterworth August 2005