Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach

This paper focuses on investigating the mechanical buckling behavior of composite and orthotropic classical rectangular plates using the Galerkin theory. By utilizing the classical plate theory of elasticity, the governing equations for the functionally graded plate material subjected to a uniaxiall...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thompson Edozie Okeke, Festus Chukwudi Onyeka, Uzor Onyia, Benjamin Nnamdi Ekwueme
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/adce/4587827
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850123771121238016
author Thompson Edozie Okeke
Festus Chukwudi Onyeka
Uzor Onyia
Benjamin Nnamdi Ekwueme
author_facet Thompson Edozie Okeke
Festus Chukwudi Onyeka
Uzor Onyia
Benjamin Nnamdi Ekwueme
author_sort Thompson Edozie Okeke
collection DOAJ
description This paper focuses on investigating the mechanical buckling behavior of composite and orthotropic classical rectangular plates using the Galerkin theory. By utilizing the classical plate theory of elasticity, the governing equations for the functionally graded plate material subjected to a uniaxially distributed load along the x and y axes are derived based on the principle of work energy. Consequently, the displacement function is determined as the solution to a differential equation that satisfies specific boundary conditions. The equilibrium expression derived from the work-energy equation is then minimized and analytically solved to determine the stresses and critical buckling loads of an orthotropic composite rectangular plate. The critical buckling loads of all edges, including clamped and simply supported orthotropic and isotropic thin rectangular plates with aspect ratios ranging from 0.1 to 3, are calculated and compared with existing literature to assess the stiffness of isotropic and orthotropic plates. The findings reveal that the critical buckling load of a clamped plate decreases as the aspect ratio increases from 0.1 to 1 but increases for aspect ratios between 1 and 3. The average percentage variation of critical buckling load values obtained from previous studies using orthotropic and isotropic (classical lamination plate theory [CLPT]) materials is found to be 1.93% and 3.65%, respectively. Additionally, it is observed that the critical buckling load of clamped edges in isotropic plates is lower than that of orthotropic plates at lower aspect ratios (0.4–1.0) but higher at higher aspect ratios (above 1.0). The results indicate that plates with all-round clamped boundaries exhibit higher buckling loads due to their effective fixation at all boundaries, which provides greater resistance to deformation and buckling compared to plates with all edges simply supported, where there is more flexibility for deformation under loads. This highlights the influence of boundary conditions on the critical buckling load of the plate. Furthermore, a significant percentage difference is noted when comparing approximate solutions, while a low percentage difference of 0.43% with the author’s derived displacement function indicates close agreement, demonstrating the high level of accuracy and reliability of the proposed model in predicting buckling load of plates. Hence, it can be recommended for stability analysis, especially where the material properties need to be controlled in a specific direction to optimize performance.
format Article
id doaj-art-84585bb1bbeb4321a86b4a172dc3f1d2
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-8094
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Civil Engineering
spelling doaj-art-84585bb1bbeb4321a86b4a172dc3f1d22025-08-20T02:34:31ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80942025-01-01202510.1155/adce/4587827Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational ApproachThompson Edozie Okeke0Festus Chukwudi Onyeka1Uzor Onyia2Benjamin Nnamdi Ekwueme3Department of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringThis paper focuses on investigating the mechanical buckling behavior of composite and orthotropic classical rectangular plates using the Galerkin theory. By utilizing the classical plate theory of elasticity, the governing equations for the functionally graded plate material subjected to a uniaxially distributed load along the x and y axes are derived based on the principle of work energy. Consequently, the displacement function is determined as the solution to a differential equation that satisfies specific boundary conditions. The equilibrium expression derived from the work-energy equation is then minimized and analytically solved to determine the stresses and critical buckling loads of an orthotropic composite rectangular plate. The critical buckling loads of all edges, including clamped and simply supported orthotropic and isotropic thin rectangular plates with aspect ratios ranging from 0.1 to 3, are calculated and compared with existing literature to assess the stiffness of isotropic and orthotropic plates. The findings reveal that the critical buckling load of a clamped plate decreases as the aspect ratio increases from 0.1 to 1 but increases for aspect ratios between 1 and 3. The average percentage variation of critical buckling load values obtained from previous studies using orthotropic and isotropic (classical lamination plate theory [CLPT]) materials is found to be 1.93% and 3.65%, respectively. Additionally, it is observed that the critical buckling load of clamped edges in isotropic plates is lower than that of orthotropic plates at lower aspect ratios (0.4–1.0) but higher at higher aspect ratios (above 1.0). The results indicate that plates with all-round clamped boundaries exhibit higher buckling loads due to their effective fixation at all boundaries, which provides greater resistance to deformation and buckling compared to plates with all edges simply supported, where there is more flexibility for deformation under loads. This highlights the influence of boundary conditions on the critical buckling load of the plate. Furthermore, a significant percentage difference is noted when comparing approximate solutions, while a low percentage difference of 0.43% with the author’s derived displacement function indicates close agreement, demonstrating the high level of accuracy and reliability of the proposed model in predicting buckling load of plates. Hence, it can be recommended for stability analysis, especially where the material properties need to be controlled in a specific direction to optimize performance.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/adce/4587827
spellingShingle Thompson Edozie Okeke
Festus Chukwudi Onyeka
Uzor Onyia
Benjamin Nnamdi Ekwueme
Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach
Advances in Civil Engineering
title Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach
title_full Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach
title_fullStr Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach
title_full_unstemmed Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach
title_short Analytic Buckling Solution of Composite Classical Rectangular Thin Plates Using Galerkin Variational Approach
title_sort analytic buckling solution of composite classical rectangular thin plates using galerkin variational approach
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/adce/4587827
work_keys_str_mv AT thompsonedozieokeke analyticbucklingsolutionofcompositeclassicalrectangularthinplatesusinggalerkinvariationalapproach
AT festuschukwudionyeka analyticbucklingsolutionofcompositeclassicalrectangularthinplatesusinggalerkinvariationalapproach
AT uzoronyia analyticbucklingsolutionofcompositeclassicalrectangularthinplatesusinggalerkinvariationalapproach
AT benjaminnnamdiekwueme analyticbucklingsolutionofcompositeclassicalrectangularthinplatesusinggalerkinvariationalapproach