2.

Buckling of plates
Linear and nonlinear theory of buckling, buckling under direct stresses
(class 4 sections), buckling under shear, local loading and Eurocode approach.

Stability of an ideal (flat) plate

Solution is based on linearized relation of a plate
various loading with „large deflections":

⎛ ∂ 4w ∂ 4w ∂ 4w ⎞ * ∂ w
2
∂ 2w * ∂ w
2

various boundary D⎜⎜ + 2 + ⎟ + N + 2N *

+ N =0
∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂y 4 ⎟⎠
x xy y
⎝ ∂x
4
∂x 2 ∂x ∂y ∂y 2
conditions
+ relevant boundary conditions

critical stresses σ* (or N*) – take the

Thereof infinitely many solutions: lowest
respective shapes of deflection w
(modes of buckling)

Critical stresses are given as: σ cr = k σ ⋅ σ E or τ cr = kτ ⋅ σ E

critical stress factor Euler stress

OK3 1

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 "Euler stress" σE
Auxiliary value, for a compression strut of width "1":
PE
2 2
PE π 2D π 2E ⎛ t ⎞ ⎛t⎞
b σE = = = 2 ⎜ ⎟ = 189800⎜ ⎟
1⋅ t 1⋅ t ⋅ b 2
(
12 1 − ν ⎝ b ⎠ ) ⎝b⎠
PE
1
Critical stress factor: kσ = 4
(depends on loading and boundary
conditions, see literature)
kσ = 23,9
2
⎛b⎞ a
kτ = 5,34 + 4⎜ ⎟ for ≥1
⎝a⎠ b

Strength of an actual (imperfect) plate

Equations of a plate with „large deflections“ (Karman’s equations):

⎛ ∂ 4w ∂ 4w ∂ 4w ⎞ ⎛ ∂ 2Φ ∂ 2w ∂ 2Φ ∂ 2w ∂ 2Φ ∂ 2w ⎞
(1) D⎜⎜ +2 2 2 + ⎟
4 ⎟
⎜
−Et ⎜ 2 −2 + ⎟= 0
2 ⎟
⎝ ∂ x 4
∂ x ∂ y ∂ y ⎠ ⎝ ∂ y ∂ x 2
∂ x ∂ y ∂ x ∂ y ∂ x 2
∂ y ⎠
2
∂ Φ
4
∂ Φ
4
∂ Φ ∂ w ∂ w
4 2 2
⎛ ∂ w2
⎞
(2) +2 2 2 + + − ⎜⎜ ⎟ =0
⎟
∂x 4
∂x ∂y ∂y 4
∂x ∂ y
2 2
⎝ ∂ x ∂ y ⎠
OK3 2

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Plate imperfections
stability initial residual stresses due to welding
(buckling modes) deflections

b σcr,1
a
w0 = b/200
σcr,1 w0

τcr,1 w0

Example of a compression plate with initial deflections and residual stresses:

t
beff/2 Resulting strengths are used in
b the form of reduction (buckling)
beff/2 factors ρ :
initial σmax = fy
σ beff b
deflection ρ= = σ = ∫ σ db
fy b 0

OK3 3

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Eurocode 1993-1-5: Plated structural elements
1. Buckling due to direct stress (loading N, M):

λ p − 0,055 (3 + ψ ) fy b/t
ρ= ≤ 1,0 λp = = ψ = σ2/σ1
λ
2
p
σ cr 28 ,4 ε k σ

λ p − 0,188
For outstand compression elements similarly: ρ = 2
≤ 1,0
λ p
(for kσ see Eurocode)
Verification of class 4 cross sections:
a) effective width method, in which the buckling parts of plates are excluded,
b) reduced stress method, in which the stresses of full cross section are
determined and limited by buckling reduction factors ρx, ρz, χw:

a) aAeffA, I,eff
eff
I eff b)b A,A,I I
Note:
ρρ
x x
b) does not include stress
ρρ , ρ, ρ
x x z z
, χ, χw redistribution after buckling
eMe M
among individual parts of
cross section!!!

OK3 4

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Effective width method

The effectivep area of the compression zone of a plate: Ac,eff = ρ Ac

• internal elements: ψ = σ1/σ2

2
σ1 σ2 1 > ψ ≥ 0: beff = ρ⎯b be1 = beff be2 = beff - be1
5 −ψ
be1 be2
b

bc bt

ψ < 0: beff = ρ bc = ρ⎯b / (1-ψ) be1 = 0,4 beff

be1 be2
be2 = 0,6 beff
b

Factors kσ
ψ 1 1>ψ>0 0 0 > ψ > -1 -1 -1 > ψ > -3
kσ 4,0 8,2/(1,05+ψ) 7,81 7,81-6,29ψ+9,78ψ2 23,9 5,98(1-ψ)2

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© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 • outstand elements: ψ = σ1/σ2
bt bc
beff 1 > ψ ≥ 0: ψ < 0:
σ1 σ1
σ2 beff = ρ c beff = ρ bc = ρ c /(1- ψ)
c σ2 beff

ψ 1 0 -1 1 ≥ ψ ≥ -3
kσ 0,43 0,57 0,85 0,57-0,21ψ+0,078ψ2

beff
beff
ψ < 0:
1 > ψ ≥ 0: σ1
σ1 beff = ρ bc = ρ c /(1- ψ)
σ2 beff = ρ c σ2
bc bt
c

Factors kσ
ψ 1 1>ψ>0 0 0>ψ>-1 -1
kσ 0,43 0,578/(ψ+0,34) 1,70 1,7-5ψ+17,1ψ2 23,8

OK3 6

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Effective cross sections (class 4 cross sections)

axial compression moment

eM eM

eN
this eccentricity invokes additional moment from the axial
force due to shift of neutral axis in interaction of M - N

Effective parameters of class 4 cross sections (Aeff, Weff) are determined

by common way.

Verification of cross section in ULS:

NEd M + NEd eN
η1 = + Ed ≤ 1,0 (in stability checks:
f y Aeff f y W eff
to introduce χ, χLT)
γ M0 γ M0

OK3 7

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Stiffened plates: Ac,eff,loc
b1,edge,eff b3,edge,eff

Examples:
- stiffened flange of a box girder,
- web of a deep girder. ρ
ρ1 b2 2
b1 ρ
b2 2 2 b ρ3
2 2
3
2
b1 b2 b3

middle part edges

Ac,eff = ρ c Ac,eff,loc + ∑ bedge, eff t

global buckling reduction factor

(approx. given by reduction factor of the effective stiffener - possible to calculate as
a strut in compression)

[For more details see subject:

Stability of plates]
OK3 8

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Example of buckling of longitudinally and transversally stiffened flange
of a box girder:

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© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 2. Shear buckling (loading by shear force V):

Rotating stress field theory is used. Influence of stiffeners is included

proportionally to higher critical stress – after modification agrees with tests.

Design resistance to shear (including shear buckling):

η = 1,2 up to steels S460
η f y hw t 235
Vb,Rd = Vbw,Rd + Vbf,Rd ≤ ε=
3 γ M1 fy
contribution from the flanges (can be ignored)
contribution from the web tf

VEd
Verification of ULS: η3 = ≤ 1,0 t hw
Vb,Rd
tf
Shear buckling may be ignored for web slenderness: bf
hw 72
unstiffened webs ≤ ε (i.e. 60 for S235)
t η
stiffened webs hw 31
≤ ε kτ
(transverse, longitudinal) t η
OK3 10

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Forming of tension diagonals in panels:

Phase 1
Beam behaviour

Phase 2
Truss behaviour

Phase 3
frame behaviour
(influence of several %)

OK3 11

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Contribution from the web
χ w fyw hw t
Vbw,Rd =
3 γ M1
Factor χw for the contribution of the web to the shear buckling resistance
may be (in acc. to tests) increased for rigid end post and internal panels:
Slenderness Rigid end post Non-rigid end post

λ w < 0,83 / η η η

0,83 / η ≤ λ w < 1,08 0,83 / λ w 0,83 / λ w

λ w ≥ 1,08 (
1,37 / 0,7 + λ w ) 0,83 / λ w
χw
Reason:
1,2 Rigid end post anchorage
1
of panels →
difference 22%

Non-rigid end post

1 2 λw
OK3 12

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Web slenderness λw
• unstiffened webs (with the exception at the beam ends):

fy / 3 hw
λw = =
τ cr 86,4 t ε

• webs with transverse stiffeners in distance a:

hw
hw λw =
37,4 t ε kτ
n×a

Critical stress factor kτ:

k τ = 5 ,34 + 4 ,00 (hw / a )

2
as far as a / hw ≥ 1
k τ = 4 ,00 + 5 ,34 (hw / a )
2
as far as a / hw < 1

[For webs with longitudinal stiffeners

see course: Stability of plates]
OK3 13

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 3. Buckling under local loading
3 types of loading are distinguished:
a) through the flange ,
b) through the flange and transferred directly to the other one,
c) through the flange adjacent to an unstiffened end.
Type (a) Type (b) Type (c)
Fs Fs Fs

V1,s ss V2,s
V hw ss c ss Vs
2,s

Local design resistance:

fy reduction factor due to local buckling
FRd = Leff t w
γ M1 (governed by critical stress)

effective length of web Leff = χFℓy

effective loaded length
(governed by ss)
[In detail see Eurocode,
or course: Stability of plates]
OK3 14

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Example of local web buckling:

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© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.

 Verification for local buckling:

FEd FEd
η2 = = ≤ 1,0
FRd fy
Leff t w
γ M1

Interaction N + M + F:

η2 + 0,8 η1 ≤ 1,4

i.e.:
⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
FEd ⎜ NEd MEd + NEd eN ⎟
+ 0,8 ⎜ + ⎟ ≤ 1,4
fy fy Aeff fy Weff
Leff t w ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
γ M1 ⎝ M0γ γ M0 ⎠

OK3 16

© 2 Prof. Ing. Josef Macháček, DrSc.