In-plane stability of arches

Classical buckling theory is mostly used to investigate the in-plane stability of arches, which assumes that the pre-buckling behaviour is linear and that the effects of pre-buckling deformations on buckling can be ignored. However, the behaviour of shallow arches becomes non-linear and the deformations are substantial prior to buckling, so that their effects on the buckling of shallow arches need to be considered. Classical buckling theory which does not consider these effects cannot correctly predict the in-plane buckling load of shallow arches. This paper investigates the in-plane buckling of circular arches with an arbitrary cross-section and subjected to a radial load uniformly distributed around the arch axis. An energy method is used to establish both non-linear equilibrium equations and buckling equilibrium equations for shallow arches. Analytical solutions for the in-plane buckling loads of shallow arches subjected to this loading regime are obtained. Approximations to the symmetric buckling of shallow arches and formulae for the in-plane anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling load of non-shallow arches are proposed, and criteria that define shallow and non-shallow arches are also stated. Comparisons with finite element results demonstrate that the solutions and indeed approximations are accurate, and that classical buckling theory can correctly predict the in-plane anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling load of non-shallow arches, but overestimates the in-plane anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling load of shallow arches significantly.     

Dynamic buckling of a shallow arch under shock loading considering the effects of the arch shape

In this paper, the influence of the initial curvature of thin shallow arches on the dynamic pulse buckling load is examined. Using numerical means and a multi-dof semi-analytical model, both quasi-static and non-linear transient dynamical analyzes are performed. The influence of various parameters, such as pulse duration, damping and, especially, the arch shape is illustrated. Moreover, the results are numerically validated through a comparison with results obtained using finite element modeling. The main results are firstly that the critical shock level can be significantly increased by optimizing the arch shape and secondly, that geometric imperfections have only a mild influence on these results. Furthermore, by comparing the sensitivities of the static and dynamic buckling loads with respect to the arch shape, non-trivial quantitative correspondences are found.     

钢管混凝土圆弧桁架拱平面内徐变稳定分析

核心混凝土的徐变会增加钢管混凝土拱肋的屈曲前变形,降低结构的稳定承载力,因此只有计入屈曲前变形的影响,才能准确得到钢管混凝土拱的徐变稳定承载力。基于圆弧形浅拱的非线性屈曲理论,采用虚功原理,建立了考虑徐变和剪切变形双重效应的管混凝土圆弧桁架拱的平面内非线性平衡方程,求得两铰和无铰桁架拱发生反对称分岔屈曲和对称跳跃屈曲的徐变稳定临界荷载。探讨了钢管混凝土桁架拱核心混凝土徐变随修正长细比、圆心角和加载龄期对该类结构弹性稳定承载力的影响,为钢管混凝土桁架拱长期设计提供理论依据。     

Non-linear in-plane postbuckling of arches with rotational end restraints under uniform radial loading

This paper presents a thorough and comprehensive investigation of non-linear buckling and postbuckling analyses of pin-ended shallow circular arches subjected to a uniform radial load and which have equal elastic rotational end-restraints. The differential equations of equilibrium for non-linear buckling and postbuckling are established based on a virtual work approach. Exact solutions for the non-linear bifurcation, limit point and lowest buckling loads are obtained; in particular, exact solutions for the non-linear postbuckling equilibrium paths are derived. The criteria for switching between fundamental buckling and postbuckling modes are developed in terms of critical values of a geometric parameter for an arch, with exact solutions for these critical values of geometric parameter being obtained. Analytical solutions of non-linear buckling and postbuckling problems for arches with rotational end-restraints are of great interest, since they constitute one of the very few closed-form analyses of buckling and postbuckling behaviour of continuous structural systems. These exact solutions are a contribution to the non-linear structural mechanics of arches, as well as providing useful benchmark solutions for verifying non-linear numerical analyses.     

Long-term non-linear behaviour and buckling of shallow concrete-filled steel tubular arches

This paper presents a theoretical analysis for the long-term non-linear elastic in-plane behaviour and buckling of shallow concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arches. It is known that an elastic shallow arch does not buckle under a load that is lower than the critical loads for its bifurcation or limit point buckling because its buckling equilibrium configuration cannot be achieved, and the arch is in a stable equilibrium state although its structural response may be quite non-linear under the load. However, for a CFST arch under a sustained load, the visco-elastic effects of creep and shrinkage of the concrete core produce significant long-term increases in the deformations and bending moments and subsequently lead to a time-dependent change of its equilibrium configuration. Accordingly, the bifurcation point and limit point of the time-dependent equilibrium path and the corresponding buckling loads of CFST arches also change with time. When the changing time-dependent bifurcation or limit point buckling load of a CFST arch becomes equal to the sustained load, the arch may buckle in a bifurcation mode or in a limit point mode in the time domain. A virtual work method is used in the paper to investigate bifurcation and limit point buckling of shallow circular CFST arches that are subjected to a sustained uniform radial load. The algebraically tractable age-adjusted effective modulus method is used to model the time-dependent behaviour of the concrete core, based on which solutions for the prebuckling structural life time corresponding to non-linear bifurcation and limit point buckling are derived.     

几何缺陷浅拱的动力稳定性分析

研究了几何缺陷对粘弹性铰支浅拱动力稳定性能的影响。从达朗贝尔原理和欧拉-贝努利假定出发推导了粘弹性铰支浅拱在正弦分布突加荷载作用下的动力学控制方程,并采用Galerkin截断法得到了可用龙格-库塔法求解的无量纲化非线性微分方程组。同时引入能有效追踪结构动力后屈曲路径的广义位移控制法,对含几何缺陷浅拱的响应曲线进行几何、材料双重非线性有限元分析。用这两种方法分析了前三阶谐波缺陷对浅拱动力稳定性能的影响,其中动力临界荷载由B-R准则判定。主要结论有:材料粘弹性使浅拱动力临界荷载增大且结构响应曲线与弹性情况差别很大;二阶谐波缺陷影响显著,它使动力临界荷载明显下降且使得浅拱粘弹性动力临界荷载可能低于弹性动力临界荷载。     

Non-linear in-plane analysis and buckling of pinned–fixed shallow arches subjected to a central concentrated load

This paper is concerned with an analytical study of the non-linear elastic in-plane behaviour and buckling of pinned–fixed shallow circular arches that are subjected to a central concentrated radial load. Because the boundary conditions provided by the pinned support and fixed support of a pinned–fixed arch are quite different from those of a pinned–pinned or a fixed–fixed arch, the non-linear behaviour of a pinned–fixed arch is more complicated than that of its pinned–pinned or fixed–fixed counterpart. Analytical solutions for the non-linear equilibrium path for shallow pinned–fixed circular arches are derived. The non-linear equilibrium path for a pinned–fixed arch may have one or three unstable equilibrium paths and may include two or four limit points. This is different from pinned–pinned and fixed–fixed arches that have only two limit points. The number of limit points in the non-linear equilibrium path of a pinned–fixed arch depends on the slenderness and the included angle of the arch. The switches in terms of an arch geometry parameter, which is introduced in the paper, are derived for distinguishing between arches with two limit points and those with four limit points and for distinguishing between a pinned–fixed arch and a beam curved in-elevation. It is also shown that a pinned–fixed arch under a central concentrated load can buckle in a limit point mode, but cannot buckle in a bifurcation mode. This contrasts with the buckling behaviour of pinned–pinned or fixed–fixed arches under a central concentrated load, which may buckle both in a bifurcation mode and in a limit point mode. An analytical solution for the limit point buckling load of shallow pinned–fixed circular arches is also derived. Comparisons with finite element results show that the analytical solutions can accurately predict the non-linear buckling and postbuckling behaviour of shallow pinned–fixed arches. Although the solutions are derived for shallow pinned–fixed arches, comparisons with the finite element results demonstrate that they can also provide reasonable predictions for the buckling load of deep pinned–fixed arches under a central concentrated load.     

Non-linear in-plane buckling of rotationally restrained shallow arches under a central concentrated load

This paper investigates the non-linear in-plane buckling of pin-ended shallow circular arches with elastic end rotational restraints under a central concentrated load. A virtual work method is used to establish both the non-linear equilibrium equations and the buckling equilibrium equations. Analytical solutions for the non-linear in-plane symmetric snap-through and antisymmetric bifurcation buckling loads are obtained. It is found that the effects of the stiffness of the end rotational restraints on the buckling loads, and on the buckling and postbuckling behaviour of arches, are significant. The buckling loads increase with an increase of the stiffness of the rotational restraints. The values of the arch slenderness that delineate its snap-through and bifurcation buckling modes, and that define the conditions of buckling and of no buckling for the arch, increase with an increase of the stiffness of the rotational end restraints.     

Post-buckling behavior of a fixed arch for variable geometry structures

The behavior of a bistable strut for variable geometry structures was investigated in this paper. A fixed shallow arch subjected to a central concentrated load was used to study the equilibrium path of the bistable strut. Based on a nonlinear strain–displacement relationship, the critical loads for both the symmetric snap-through and asymmetric bifurcation buckling modes were obtained. Moreover, the principal of virtual work was also used to establish the post-buckling differential equilibrium equations of the arch in the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, the whole mechanical behavior before and after the buckling of fixed arches is investigated.     

爆炸冲击下复合材料层合扁球壳的动力屈曲

研究计及横向剪切的复合材料层合扁球壳在爆炸冲击载荷作用下的非线性轴对称动力屈曲问题。通过在复合材料层合扁球壳非线性稳定性的基本方程中增加横向转动惯量项并引入R.H.Cole理论的爆炸冲击力,得到爆炸冲击下复合材料层合扁球壳的动力控制方程,应用Galerkin方法得到用顶点挠度表达的爆炸冲击动力响应方程,并采用Runge-Kutta方法进行数值求解,采用Budiansky-Roth准则确定冲击屈曲的临界载荷,讨论了壳体几何尺寸对复合材料层合扁球壳冲击屈曲的影响;数值算例表明,此方法是可行的。     

Nonlinear dynamic behaviors of viscoelastic shallow arches

The nonlinear dynamic behaviors of nonlinear viscoelastic shallow arches sub- jected to external excitation are investigated. Based on the d＇Alembert principle and the Euler-Bernoulli assumption, the governing equation of a shallow arch is obtained, where the Leaderman constitutive relation is applied. The Galerkin method and numerical in- tegration are used to study the nonlinear dynamic properties of the viscoelastic shallow arches. Moreover, the effects of the rise, the material parameter and excitation on the nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the shallow arch viscoelastic shallow arches may appear to have a are investigated. The results show that chaotic motion for certain conditions.     

两端固支复合材料浅拱的动力屈曲分析

本文研究两端固支层合复合材料浅拱在阶跃载荷作用下的动力稳定性问题。通过对浅拱动力响应的数值计算结果,然后利用B-R动力屈曲准则,着重分析了集中阶跃载荷作用下几种铺层顺序及铺层数对浅拱动力临界载荷的影响,并给出了能够产生‘跳跃失稳’的最小的结构参数γ0。此外,在利用伽辽金法求解浅拱动力学控制方程时,通过取梁的自由振动模态和柱的静力屈曲模态作为浅拱的动力屈曲模态,分别进行计算并比较了二者的结果,进而讨论了二级数解的收敛性。     

In-plane buckling of prismatic funicular arches with shear deformations

The in-plane buckling behavior of funicular arches is investigated numerically in this paper. A finite strain Timoshenko beam-type formulation that incorporates shear deformations is developed for generic funicular arches. The elastic constitutive relationships for the internal beam actions are based on a hyperelastic constitutive model, and the funicular arch equilibrium equations are derived. The problems of a submerged arch under hydrostatic pressure, a parabolic arch under gravity load and a catenary arch loaded by overburden are investigated. Buckling solutions are derived for the parabolic and catenary arch. Subsequent investigation addresses the effects of axial deformation prior to buckling and shear deformation during buckling. An approximate buckling solution is then obtained based on the maximum axial force in the arch. The obtained buckling solutions are compared with the numerical solutions of Dinnik (Stability of arches, 1946) [1] and the finite element package ANSYS. The effects of shear deformation are also evaluated.     

Buckling and post-buckling analyses for an axially compressed laminated cylindrical shell of FGM with PFRC in thermal environments

In this paper, investigation on buckling and post-buckling behaviors of a laminated cylindrical shell of functionally graded material (FGM) with the piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC) actuators subjected to thermal and axial compressed loads is presented. Based on the Donnell assumptions, the material properties of the FGM layer vary smoothly through the laminated cylindrical shell thickness according to a power law distribution of the volume fraction of constituent materials. In the present study, a numerical procedure for the laminated cylindrical shell is used based on the Ritz energy method and the nonlinear strain–displacement relations. Some useful discussion and numerical examples are presented to show various effects of temperature field, volume fraction and geometric parameters on the buckling and post-buckling behaviors of the laminated cylindrical shell with PFRC.     

Non-linear axisymmetric response of functionally graded shallow spherical shells under uniform external pressure including temperature effects

This paper presents an analytical approach to investigate the non-linear axisymmetric response of functionally graded shallow spherical shells subjected to uniform external pressure incorporating the effects of temperature. Material properties are assumed to be temperature-independent, and graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of constituents. Equilibrium and compatibility equations for shallow spherical shells are derived by using the classical shell theory and specialized for axisymmetric deformation with both geometrical non-linearity and initial geometrical imperfection are taken into consideration. One-term deflection mode is assumed and explicit expressions of buckling loads and load-deflection curves are determined due to Galerkin method. Stability analysis for a clamped spherical shell shows the effects of material and geometric parameters, edge restraint and temperature conditions, and imperfection on the behavior of the shells.     

Stress and buckling analysis of a thick-walled micro sandwich panel with a flexible foam core and carbon nanotube reinforced composite(CNTRC) face sheets

In this paper, the stresses and buckling behaviors of a thick-walled micro sandwich panel with a flexible foam core and carbon nanotube reinforced composite(CNTRC) face sheets are considered based on the high-order shear deformation theory(HSDT) and the modified couple stress theory(MCST). The governing equations of equilibrium are obtained based on the total potential energy principle. The effects of various parameters such as the aspect ratio, elastic foundation, temperature changes, and volume fraction of the canbon nanotubes(CNTs) on the critical buckling loads, normal stress,shear stress, and deflection of the thick-walled micro cylindrical sandwich panel considering different distributions of CNTs are examined. The results are compared and validated with other studies, and showing an excellent compatibility. CNTs have become very useful and common candidates in sandwich structures, and they have been extensively used in many applications including nanotechnology, aerospace, and micro-structures. This paper also extends further applications of reinforced sandwich panels by providing the modified equations and formulae.     

Influence of elastic foundations and carbon nanotube reinforcement on the hydrostatic buckling pressure of truncated conical shells

In this study, the effects of elastic foundations(EFs) and carbon nanotube(CNT) reinforcement on the hydrostatic buckling pressure(HBP) of truncated conical shells(TCSs) are investigated. The first order shear deformation theory(FOSDT) is generalized to the buckling problem of TCSs reinforced with CNTs resting on the EFs for the first time. The material properties of composite TCSs reinforced with CNTs are graded linearly according to the thickness coordinate. The Winkler elastic foundation(W-EF) and Pasternak elastic foundation(P-EF) are considered as the EF. The basic relations and equations of TCSs reinforced with CNTs on the EFs are obtained in the framework of the FOSDT and solved using the Galerkin method. One of the innovations in this study is to obtain a closed-form solution for the HBP of TCSs reinforced with CNTs on the EFs. Finally, the effects of the EFs and various types CNT reinforcements on the HBP are investigated simultaneously. The obtained results are compared with the results in the literature, and the accuracy of results is confirmed.     

矩形脉冲作用下复合材料层合扁球壳的冲击屈曲分析

研究了计及横向剪切的复合材料层合扁球壳在矩形脉冲载荷作用下的非线性动力屈曲问题;采用Galerkin方法得到以顶点挠度表达的动力响应方程,并用Runge-Kutta方法进行数值求解,应用Budiansky-Roth准则(简称B-R准则)确定冲击屈曲的临界荷载;讨论了壳体几何尺寸和物理参数对复合材料层合扁球壳冲击屈曲的影响;数值算例表明,该方法是可行的.     

Nonlinear analysis and buckling of elastically supported circular shallow arches

Arches are often supported elastically by other structural members. This paper investigates the in-plane nonlinear elastic behaviour and stability of elastically supported shallow circular arches that are subjected to a radial load uniformly distributed around the arch axis. Analytical solutions for the nonlinear behaviour and for the nonlinear buckling load are obtained for shallow arches with equal or unequal elastic supports. It is found that the flexibility of the elastic supports and the shallowness of the arch play important roles in the nonlinear structural response of the arch. The limiting shallownesses that distinguish between the buckling modes are obtained and the relationship of the limiting shallowness with the flexibility of the elastic supports is established, and the critical flexibility of the elastic radial supports is derived. An arch with equal elastic radial supports whose flexibility is larger than the critical value becomes an elastically supported beam curved in elevation, while an arch with one rigid and one elastic radial support whose flexibility is larger than the critical value still behaves as an arch when its shallowness is higher than a limiting shallowness. Comparisons with finite element results demonstrate that the analytical solutions and the values of the critical flexibility of the elastic supports and the limiting shallowness of the arch are valid.     

Linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of non-uniform shallow arches under a central concentrated force

In this paper an integral equation solution to the linear and geometrically nonlinear problem of non-uniform in-plane shallow arches under a central concentrated force is presented. Arches exhibit advantageous behavior over straight beams due to their curvature which increases the overall stiffness of the structure. They can span large areas by resolving forces into mainly compressive stresses and, in turn confining tensile stresses to acceptable limits. Most arches are designed to operate linearly under service loads. However, their slenderness nature makes them susceptible to large deformations especially when the external loads increase beyond the service point. Loss of stability may occur, known also as snap-through buckling, with catastrophic consequences for the structure. Linear analysis cannot predict this type of instability and a geometrically nonlinear analysis is needed to describe efficiently the response of the arch. The aim of this work is to cope with the linear and geometrically nonlinear problem of non-uniform shallow arches under a central concentrated force. The governing equations of the problem are comprised of two nonlinear coupled partial differential equations in terms of the axial (tangential) and transverse (normal) displacements. Moreover, as the cross-sectional properties of the arch vary along its axis, the resulting coupled differential equations have variable coefficients and are solved using a robust integral equation numerical method in conjunction with the arc-length method. The latter method allows following the nonlinear equilibrium path and overcoming bifurcation and limit (turning) points, which usually appear in the nonlinear response of curved structures like shallow arches and shells. Several arches are analyzed not only to validate our proposed model, but also to investigate the nonlinear response of in-plane thin shallow arches.