Finite element analysis of post-buckling dynamics in plates—Part I: An asymptotic approach

Various static and dynamic aspects of post-buckled thin plates, including the transition of buckled patterns, post-buckling dynamics, secondary bifurcation, and dynamic snapping (mode jumping phenomenon), are investigated systematically using asymptotical and non-stationary finite element methods. In part I, the secondary dynamic instability and the local post-secondary buckling behavior of thin rectangular plates under generalized (mechanical and thermal) loading is investigated using an asymptotic numerical method which combines Koiter’s nonlinear instability theory with the finite element technique. A dynamic multi-mode reduction method—similar to its static single-mode counterpart: Liapunov–Schmidt reduction—is developed in this perturbation approach. Post-secondary buckling equilibrium branches are obtained by solving the reduced low-dimensional parametric equations and their stability properties are determined directly by checking the eigenvalues of the resulting Jacobian matrix. Typical post-secondary buckling forms—transcritical, supercritical and subcritical bifurcations are observed according to different combinations of boundary conditions and load types. Geometric imperfection analysis shows that not only the secondary bifurcation load but also changes in the fundamental post-secondary buckling behavior are affected. The post-buckling dynamics and the global analysis of mode jumping of the plates are addressed in part II.     

Postbuckling and mode jumping analysis of composite laminates using an asymptotically correct, geometrically non-linear theory

An analytic method is presented in this paper to study the postbuckling and mode jumping behavior of bi-axially compressed composite laminates. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are derived rigorously from an asymptotically correct, geometrically non-linear theory. A novel and relatively simpler solution approach is developed to solve the two coupled fourth-order PDEs, namely, the compatibility equation and the dynamic governing equation. The generalized Galerkin method is used to solve boundary value problems corresponding to antisymmetric angle-ply and cross-ply composite plates, respectively. The variety of possible modal interactions is expressed in an explicit and concise form by transforming the coupled non-linear governing equations into a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs).

The comparison between the present method and the finite element analysis (FEA) shows a pretty good match in their numerical results in the primary postbuckling region. While the FEA may lose its convergence when solution comes close to the secondary bifurcation point, the analytic approach has the capability of exploring deeply into the post-secondary buckling realm and capture the mode jumping phenomenon for various combinations of plate configurations and in-plane boundary conditions. Free vibration along the stable primary postbuckling and the jumped equilibrium paths are also studied.     

Pseudo-nonlinear dynamic analysis of buckled pipes

In this study, the post-divergence behavior of fluid-conveying pipes supported at both ends is investigated using the nonlinear equations of motion. The governing equation exhibits a cubic nonlinearity arising from mid-plane stretching. Exact solutions for post-buckling configurations of pipes with fixed–fixed, fixed–hinged, and hinged–hinged boundary conditions are investigated. The pipe is stable at its original static equilibrium position until the flow velocity becomes high enough to cause a supercritical pitchfork bifurcation, and the pipe loses stability by static divergence. In the supercritical fluid velocity regime, the equilibrium configuration becomes unstable and bifurcates into multiple equilibrium positions. To investigate the vibrations that occur in the vicinity of a buckled equilibrium position, the pseudo-nonlinear vibration problem around the first buckled configuration is solved precisely using a new solution procedure. By solving the resulting eigenvalue problem, the natural frequencies and the associated mode shapes of the pipe are calculated. The dynamic stability of the post-buckling configurations obtained in this manner is investigated. The first buckled shape is a stable equilibrium position for all boundary conditions. The buckled configurations beyond the first buckling mode are unstable equilibrium positions. The natural frequencies of the lowest vibration modes around each of the first two buckled configurations are presented. Effects of the system parameters on pipe behavior as well as the possibility of a subcritical pitchfork bifurcation are also investigated. The results show that many internal resonances might be activated among the vibration modes around the same or different buckled configurations.     

Dynamic buckling of discrete structural systems under combined step and static loads

The dynamic instability of discrete, elastic, multiple degree of freedom (d.o.f.) systems under a combination of static and step loads is studied. Conservative, autonomous and holonomic systems are considered, in which the associated static response is a bifurcation under one load parameter, and a limit point under the second parameter. A review of different criteria and algorithms obtained from them for the computation of dynamic buckling loads is first presented, followed by a procedure derived from previous investigations on one d.o.f. systems. The different procedures are applied to a two d.o.f. problem under axial and lateral load, with quadratic and cubic non-linearities. The response in time shows that the system oscillates about the static equilibrium position before dynamic buckling is reached, with the kinetic energy tending to zero as assumed in the static (energy) procedures of stability.     

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.     

Secondary buckling and tertiary states of a beam on a non-linear elastic foundation

An axially compressed beam resting on a non-linear foundation undergoes a loss of stability (buckling) via a supercritical pitchfork bifurcation. In the post-buckled regime, it has been shown that under certain circumstances the system may experience a secondary bifurcation. This second bifurcation destablizes the primary buckling mode and the system “jumps” to a higher mode; for this reason, this phenomenon is often referred to as mode jumping. This work investigates two new aspects related to the problem of mode jumping. First, a three mode analysis is conducted. This analysis shows the usual primary and secondary buckling events. But it also shows stable solutions involving the third mode. However, for the cases studied here, there is no natural loading path that leads to this solution branch, i.e. only a contrived loading history would result in this solution. Second, the effect of an initial geometric imperfection is considered. This breaks the symmetry of the system and significantly complicates the bifurcation diagram.     

Computing the structural buckling limit load by using dynamic relaxation method

The numerical structural analysis schemes are extensively developed by progress of modern computer processing power. One of these approximate approaches is called "dynamic relaxation (DR) method." This technique explicitly solves the simultaneous system of equations. For analyzing the static structures, the DR strategy transfers the governing equations to the dynamic space. By adding the fictitious damping and mass to the static equilibrium equations, the corresponding artificial dynamic system is achieved. The static equilibrium path is required in order to investigate the structural stability behavior. This path shows the relationship between the loads and the displacements. In this way, the critical points and buckling loads of the non-linear structures can be obtained. The corresponding load to the first limit point is known as buckling limit load. For estimating the buckling load, the variable load factor is used in the DR process. A new procedure for finding the load factor is presented by imposing the work increment of the external forces to zero. The proposed formula only requires the fictitious parameters of the DR scheme. To prove the efficiency and robustness of the suggested algorithm, various geometric non-linear analyses are performed. The obtained results demonstrate that the new method can successfully estimate the buckling limit load of structures.     

Exact solution and stability of postbuckling configurations of beams

We present an exact solution for the postbuckling configurations of beams with fixed–fixed, fixed–hinged, and hinged–hinged boundary conditions. We take into account the geometric nonlinearity arising from midplane stretching, and as a result, the governing equation exhibits a cubic nonlinearity. We solve the nonlinear buckling problem and obtain a closed-form solution for the postbuckling configurations in terms of the applied axial load. The critical buckling loads and their associated mode shapes, which are the only outcome of solving the linear buckling problem, are obtained as a byproduct. We investigate the dynamic stability of the obtained postbuckling configurations and find out that the first buckled shape is a stable equilibrium position for all boundary conditions. However, we find out that buckled configurations beyond the first buckling mode are unstable equilibrium positions. We present the natural frequencies of the lowest vibration modes around each of the first three buckled configurations. The results show that many internal resonances might be activated among the vibration modes around the same as well as different buckled configurations. We present preliminary results of the dynamic response of a fixed–fixed beam in the case of a one-to-one internal resonance between the first vibration mode around the first buckled configuration and the first vibration mode around the second buckled configuration.     

Dynamic Elastic Buckling of Complete Spherical Shells with Initial Imperfections∗

The dynamic elastic buckling behavior of a geometrically imperfect complete spherical shell that is subjected to a uniform external step pressure is examined using Sander's equilibrium and kinematic equations, appropriately modified to include the influence of inertia forces and initial stress-free imperfections in the radius. A finite-difference procedure with either the Houbolt or Park methods of time integration is used to predict the axisym-metric dynamic elastic buckling pressures and associated critical mode numbers. The dynamic buckling pressure is significantly smaller than the corresponding static value for small initial imperfections, but is less imperfection     

Hamilton体系下功能梯度梁的热冲击动力屈曲分析

在Hamilton体系下,基于Euler梁理论研究了功能梯度材料梁受热冲击载荷作用时的动力屈曲问题;将非均匀功能梯度复合材料的物性参数假设为厚度坐标的幂函数形式,采用Laplace变换法和幂级数法解析求得热冲击下功能梯度梁内的动态温度场:首先将功能梯度梁的屈曲问题归结为辛空间中系统的零本征值问题,梁的屈曲载荷与屈曲模态分别对应于Hamilton体系下的辛本征值和本征解问题,由分叉条件求得屈曲模态和屈曲热轴力,根据屈曲热轴力求解临界屈曲升温载荷。给出了热冲击载荷作用下一类非均匀梯度材料梁屈曲特性的辛方法研究过程,讨论了材料的梯度特性、结构几何参数和热冲击载荷参数对临界温度的影响。     

Secondary buckling of a flat plate under uniaxial compression: Part 2. Analysis of clamped plate by F.E.M. and comparison with experiments

In Part 1, a theoretical analysis was used to study the secondary buckling of a simply supported plate. In Part 2, a clamped plate is analysed by the finite element method. The stability criterion for a non-linear post-buckling equilibrium state is evaluated by the sign of the determinant of the stiffness matrix. It should be noted that the secondary buckling loads of clamped plates are unexpectedly smaller than those of simply supported plates and are only one and a half times the primary buckling loads. In previous analyses, only a quarter segment of the plate was considered by assuming a stable equilibrium state with symmetrical mode. However, instability can also be predicted by considering the unsymmetrical mode over the whole plate. Results of experimental analysis of secondary instability of clamped square plates under uniaxial compression agreed with the numerical results.     

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。     

弹性圆柱壳在轴向应力波传播过程中的非对称屈曲

讨论弹性圆柱壳端部受冲击载荷作用，在应力波传播过程中的非对称屈曲问题。通过求解扰动方程得到了动态屈曲的分叉条件、临界载荷和屈曲模态。数值结果表明，当壳壁厚不很薄时，轴对称屈曲临界载荷比非对称临界载荷高；反之，轴对称临界载荷会比非对称临界载荷低。不同的冲击载荷，屈曲模态也将不同。     

超空泡运动体圆柱薄壳的非线性动力屈曲分析

超空泡运动体的动力屈曲失稳具有隐蔽性、突发性和危险性, 因而必须研究清楚运动体的失稳区域边界及失稳振幅. 将超空泡运动体模拟成受轴向周期载荷作用的细长圆柱薄壳, 给出非线性几何方程、物理方程和平衡方程, 建立细长圆柱薄壳带有非线性项的动力屈曲微分方程组; 依据非线性项的形式, 给出合理的非线性位移表达式, 得到具有周期性系数的非线性横向振动微分方程; 采用伽辽金变分法和和鲍洛金方法, 获得带有周期性系数和非线性项的马奇耶方程; 求解非线性马奇耶方程, 得到第一、第二阶不稳定区域内的定态振动振幅的解析表达式; 绘制超空泡运动体的非线性参数共振曲线, 分析航行速度、载荷比例系数、轴向载荷频率和振型对参数共振曲线的影响. 以上研究为建立基于参数共振的圆柱薄壳动力失稳的可靠性分析及基于参数共振可靠性的结构动力优化设计的奠定了理论基础.      

Influence of extra terms on asymptotic analysis of imperfection sensitivity of toroidal shell segment with random imperfection

The bifurcation of a toroidal shell segment with initial imperfection which are subjected to lateral or hydrostatic pressure is studied under the assumption that the initial imperfection are Gaussian random stress-free displacement whose mean and autocorrelation function are given. We use a perturbation scheme developed by Amazigo [Amazigo, J.C., 1971. Buckling of stochastically imperfect columns on nonlinear elastic foundation. Quart. Appl. Math. 403–491]. A simple approximate asymptotic expression is obtained for the bifurcation load for small magnitudes of the imperfection. The result is compared with results obtained earlier under secondary bifurcation analysis for the imperfections in the shape of the buckling mode and the results in the literature, which shows some significant differences as a result of inclusion of extra terms in the buckling equation.     

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.     

Stability and bifurcation analysis of a nonlinear transversally loaded rotating shaft

The dynamic stability and self-excited posteritical whirling of rotating transversally loaded shaft made of a standard material with elastic and viscous nonlinearities are analyzed in this paper using the theory of bifurcations as a mathematical tool. Partial differential equations of motion are derived under assumption that von Karman's nonlinearity is absent but geometric curvature nonlinearity is included. Galerkin's first-mode discretization procedure is then applied and the equations of motion are transformed to two third-order nonlinear equations that are analyzed using the theory of bifurcation. Condition for nontrivial equilibrium stability is determined and a bifurcating periodic solution of the second-order approximation is derived. The effects of dimensionless stress relaxation time and cubic elastic and viscous nonlinearities as well as the role of the transverse load are studied in the exemplary numerical calculations. A strongly stabilizing influence of the relaxation time is found that may eliminate self-excited vibration at all. Transition from super- to subcritical bifurcation is observed as a result of interaction between system nonlinearities and the transverse load.     

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.     

Flexural-torsional buckling of misaligned axially moving beams: II. Vibration and stability analysis

This paper addresses the stability and vibration characteristics of three-dimensional steady motions (equilibrium configurations) of translating beams undergoing boundary misalignment. System modeling and equilibrium solutions for bending in two planes, torsion, and extension were presented in Part I of the present work. Stability is determined by linearizing the equations of motion about a steady motion and calculating the eigenvalues using a finite difference discretization. For the case of no misalignment, the calculated eigenvalues are compared to known values. When the beam is misaligned, the system initially enters a planar configuration and the results indicate that the planar equilibria lose stability after the first bifurcation point. Eigenvalue behavior of the planar equilibria after the first bifurcation point is shown to be strongly influenced by translation speed. Eigenvalue behavior about non-planar equilibria and vibration modes about selected equilibria are also presented.