Large deflection elastic–plastic analysis of plate structures by the finite strip method

Abstract

AbstractThe finite strip method is applied to the non‐linear analysis of plate structures. Large deflection effects are included via first order non‐linearities in the strain–displacement relations, and material non‐linearities are included via the von Mises yield criterion and associated flow rule. The virtual work equations are integrated numerically using Gauss quadrature, and the resulting non‐linear equations are solved by Newton–Raphson iteration. Numerical results are presented for many applications including uniformly loaded rectangular and I beams, and square plates with either simply supported or clamped ends (or edges). The results are compared with known results from analytical and/or finite element analyses. Finally, a uniformly loaded stiffened panel is analysed and the results are compared with finite element results. In all cases, the results indicate that a single bending mode in the strip direction is sufficient to yield engineering accuracy for design purposes.