Abstract: Based on the elasto-plastic mechanics and continuum damage theory, a yield criterion related to spherical tensor of stress is proposed to describe the mixed hardening of damaged orthotropic materials. Its dimensionless form is isomorphic with the Mises criterion for isotropic materials. Furthermore, the
incremental elasto-plastic damage constitutive equations and damage
evolution equations are established. Based on the classical nonlinear plate theory, the incremental nonlinear equilibrium equations of orthotropic thin plates considering damage effect are obtained, and solved with the finite difference and iteration methods. In the numerical examples, the effects of damage evolution and initial deflection on the elasto-plastic postbuckling of
orthotropic plates are discussed in detail.

Key words: orthotropic plates, elasto-plastic damage,elasto-plastic postbuckling, mixed hardening, incremental theory