Imperfection sensitivity of ultimate buckling strength of elastic-plastic square plates under compression

The mechanism of imperfection sensitivity of elastic-plastic plates under compression is complex as they undergo elastic and/or plastic buckling, dependent on their width-thickness ratio. For elastic buckling, the Koiter power law is an established means to describe the imperfection sensitivity. Yet, for plastic buckling, there is no such an established way to describe it. In this paper, the quadratic power law is advanced to describe imperfection-insensitive plastic buckling behavior. The Koiter power law is extended by implementing the quadratic law so as to describe the elastic and plastic buckling in a synthetic manner. The finite-displacement, elastic-plastic analysis was conducted on simply-supported square plates under compression by varying the plate thickness and the initial deflection of a sinusoidal form. In association with an increase of the plate slenderness parameter (decrease of plate thickness), the predominant buckling is shown to change from (1) plastic buckling to (2) unstable elastic-plastic buckling and to (3) elastic stable bifurcation followed by a maximum point of load. In accordance with the change of the mechanism of buckling, the power law is changed pertinently to describe the complex imperfection sensitivity of the compression plates in a synthetic manner. The extended imperfection sensitivity law is thus advanced as a simple and strong tool to describe the ultimate buckling strength of elastic-plastic plates.