Constrained Optimal Design of Circular Plates Against Buckling∗

Several problems are investigated in which the buckling loads of structures are maximized, subject to the restriction that the volume of structural material is specified. In addition, a constraint is placed upon either the maximum allowable prebuckling stress, or the minimum allowable thickness. The structures analyzed are flat, axisymmetric circular plates, loaded by uniform radial thrust, and assumed to buckle axisymmetrically. The plates are investigated for both sandwich and solid cross-sectional geometries.