Abstract:

Kármán-type nonlinear large deflection equations are derived occnrding to the Reddy’s higher-order shear deformation plate theory and used in the thermal postbuckling analysis The effects of initial geometric imperfections of the plate areincluded in the present study which also includes th thermal effects.Simply supported,symmetric cross-ply laminated plates subjected to uniform or nomuniform parabolictemperature distribution are considered. The analysis uses a mixed GalerkinGolerkinperlurbation technique to determine thermal buckling louds and postbucklingequilibrium paths.The effects played by transverse shear deformation plate aspeclraio, total number of plies thermal load ratio and initial geometric imperfections arealso studied.

Key words: composite laminated plate, thermal postbuckling, Galerkin-perturbation technique, higher-order shear deformation plate theory