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This study presents the Chebyshev polynomials-based Ritz method to examine the thermal buckling and free vibration characteristics of metal foam beams. The analyses include three models for porosity distribution and two scenarios for thermal distribution. The material properties are assessed under two conditions, i.e., temperature dependence and temperature independence. The theoretical framework for the beams is based on the higher-order shear deformation theory, which incorporates shear deformations with higher-order polynomials. The governing equations are established from the Lagrange equations, and the beam displacement fields are approximated by the Chebyshev polynomials. Numerical simulations are performed to evaluate the effects of thermal load, slenderness, boundary condition (BC), and porosity distribution on the buckling and vibration behaviors of metal foam beams. The findings highlight the significant influence of temperature-dependent (TD) material properties on metal foam beams' buckling and vibration responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-probabilistic reliability topology optimization method is proposed based on the aggregation function and matrix multiplication. The expression of the geometric stiffness matrix is derived, the finite element linear buckling analysis is conducted, and the sensitivity solution of the linear buckling factor is achieved. For a specific problem in linear buckling topology optimization, a Heaviside projection function based on the exponential smooth growth is developed to eliminate the gray cells. The aggregation function method is used to consider the high-order eigenvalues, so as to obtain continuous sensitivity information and refined structural design. With cyclic matrix programming, a fast topology optimization method that can be used to efficiently obtain the unit assembly and sensitivity solution is conducted. To maximize the buckling load, under the constraint of the given buckling load, two types of topological optimization columns are constructed. The variable density method is used to achieve the topology optimization solution along with the moving asymptote optimization algorithm. The vertex method and the matching point method are used to carry out an uncertainty propagation analysis, and the non-probability reliability topology optimization method considering buckling responses is developed based on the transformation of non-probability reliability indices based on the characteristic distance. Finally, the differences in the structural topology optimization under different reliability degrees are illustrated by examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a three-dimensional (3D) Maltese cross metamaterial with negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and negative thermal expansion (NTE) adopted as the core layers in sandwich plates, and aims to explore the relations between the mechanical responses of sandwich composites and the NPR or NTE of the metamaterial. First, the NPR and NTE of the metamaterial are derived analytically based on energy conservation. The effective elastic modulus and mass density of the 3D metamaterial are obtained and validated by the finite element method (FEM). Subsequently, the general governing equation of the 3D sandwich plate under thermal environments is established based on Hamilton's principle with the consideration of the von Kármán nonlinearity. The differential quadrature (DQ) FEM (DQFEM) is utilized to obtain the numerical solutions. It is shown that NPR and NTE can enhance the global stiffness of sandwich structures. The geometric parameters of the Maltese cross metamaterial significantly affect the responses of the thermal stress, natural frequency, and critical buckling load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear in-plane instability of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) shallow circular arches with rotational constraints subject to a uniform radial load in a thermal environment is investigated. Assuming arches with thickness-graded material properties, four different distribution patterns of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered. The classical arch theory and Donnell's shallow shell theory assumptions are used to evaluate the arch displacement field, and the analytical solutions of buckling equilibrium equations and buckling loads are obtained by using the principle of virtual work. The critical geometric parameters are introduced to determine the criteria for buckling mode switching. Parametric studies are carried out to demonstrate the effects of temperature variations, material parameters, geometric parameters, and elastic constraints on the stability of the arch. It is found that increasing the volume fraction of CNTs and distributing CNTs away from the neutral axis significantly enhance the bending stiffness of the arch. In addition, the pretension and initial displacement caused by the temperature field have significant effects on the buckling behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A buckling model of Timoshenko micro-beam with local thickness defects is established based on a modified gradient elasticity. By introducing the local thickness defects function of the micro-beam, the variable coefficient differential equations of the buckling problem are obtained with the variational principle. Combining the eigensolution series of the complete micro-beam with the Galerkin method, we obtain the critical load and buckling modes of the micro-beam with defects. The results show that the depth and location of the defect are the main factors affecting the critical load, and the combined effect of boundary conditions and defects can significantly change the buckling mode of the micro-beam. The effect of defect location on buckling is related to the axial gradient of the rotation angle, and defects should be avoided at the maximum axial gradient of the rotation angle. The model and method are also applicable to the static deformation and vibration of the micro-beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical model for nonlocal vibration and buckling of embedded two-dimensional (2D) decagonal quasicrystal (QC) layered nanoplates is proposed. The Pasternak-type foundation is used to simulate the interaction between the nanoplates and the elastic medium. The exact solutions of the nonlocal vibration frequency and buckling critical load of the 2D decagonal QC layered nanoplates are obtained by solving the eigensystem and using the propagator matrix method. The present three-dimensional (3D) exact solution can predict correctly the nature frequencies and critical loads of the nanoplates as compared with previous thin-plate and medium-thick-plate theories. Numerical examples are provided to display the effects of the quasiperiodic direction, length-to-width ratio, thickness of the nanoplates, nonlocal parameter, stacking sequence, and medium elasticity on the vibration frequency and critical buckling load of the 2D decagonal QC nanoplates. The results show that the effects of the quasiperiodic direction on the vibration frequency and critical buckling load depend on the length-to-width ratio of the nanoplates. The thickness of the nanoplate and the elasticity of the surrounding medium can be adjusted for optimal frequency and critical buckling load of the nanoplate. This feature is useful since the frequency and critical buckling load of the 2D decagonal QCs as coating materials of plate structures can now be tuned as one desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of functionally graded material (FGM) structures is one of major threats to their service safety in widely engineering applications. This paper aims to clarify a long-standing controversy on the type of thermal instability of simply-supported FGM beams. Firstbased on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and von Kármán geometric nonlinearitya nonlinear governing equation of simply-supported FGM beams under uniform thermal loads by Zhang's two-variable method is formulated. Secondan approximate analytic solution to the nonlinear integro-differential boundary value problem with a thermal-induced inhomogeneous force boundary condition is obtained by using a semi-inverse method when the coordinate axis is relocated to the bending axis (physical neutral plane), and then the analytical predictions are verified by the differential quadrature method (DQM). Finallybased on the free energy theoremit is revealed that the symmetry breaking caused by the material inhomogeneity can make the simply-supported FGM beam under uniform thermal loads occur snap-through postbuckling only in odd modes; furthermorethe nonlinear critical load of thermal buckling varies non-monotonically with the functional gradient index due to the stretching-bending coupling effect. These results are expected to provide new ideas and references for the design and regulation of FGM structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of elastic foundations (EFs) and carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement on the hydrostatic buckling pressure (HBP) of truncated conical shells (TCSs) are investigated. The first order shear deformation theory (FOSDT) is generalized to the buckling problem of TCSs reinforced with CNTs resting on the EFs for the first time. The material properties of composite TCSs reinforced with CNTs are graded linearly according to the thickness coordinate. The Winkler elastic foundation (W-EF) and Pasternak elastic foundation (P-EF) are considered as the EF. The basic relations and equations of TCSs reinforced with CNTs on the EFs are obtained in the framework of the FOSDT and solved using the Galerkin method. One of the innovations in this study is to obtain a closed-form solution for the HBP of TCSs reinforced with CNTs on the EFs. Finally, the effects of the EFs and various types CNT reinforcements on the HBP are investigated simultaneously. The obtained results are compared with the results in the literature, and the accuracy of results is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure of the method of reverberation ray matrix (MRRM) is developed to perform the buckling analysis of thin multi-span rectangular plates having internal line supports or stiffeners. A computation algorithm for the reverberation ray matrix in the MRRM is derived to determine the buckling loading. Specifically, the analytical solutions are presented for the buckling of the structure having two opposite simply-supported or clamped-supported edges with spans, while the constraint condition of two remaining edges may be in any combination of free, simply-supported, and clamped boundary conditions. Furthermore, based on the analysis of matrices relating to the unknown coefficients in the solution form for the deflection in terms of buckling modal functions, some recursive equations (REs) for the MRRM are introduced to generate a reduced reverberation ray matrix with unchanged dimension when the number of spans increases, which promotes the computation efficiency. Several numerical examples are given, and the present results are compared with the known solutions to illustrate the validity and accurateness of the MRRM for the buckling analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inconsistences of the higher-order shear resultant expressed in terms of displacement(s) and the complete boundary value problems of structures modeled by the nonlocal strain gradient theory have not been well addressed. This paper develops a size-dependent Timoshenko beam model that considers both the nonlocal effect and strain gradient effect. The variationally consistent boundary conditions corresponding to the equations of motion of Timoshenko beams are reformulated with the aid of the weighted residual method. The complete boundary value problems of nonlocal strain gradient Timoshenko beams undergoing buckling are solved in closed forms. All the possible higher-order boundary conditions induced by the strain gradient are selectively suggested based on the fact that the buckling loads increase with the increasing aspect ratios of beams from the conventional mechanics point of view. Then, motivated by the expression for beams with simply-supported (SS) boundary conditions, some semiempirical formulae are obtained by curve fitting procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the buckling behaviors of a micro-scaled bi-directional functionally graded (FG) beam with a rectangular cross-section, which is now widely used in fabricating components of micro-nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) with a wide range of aspect ratios. Based on the modified couple stress theory and the principle of minimum potential energy, the governing equations and boundary conditions for a micro-structure-dependent beam theory are derived. The present beam theory incorporates different kinds of higher-order shear assumptions as well as the two familiar beam theories, namely, the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. A numerical solution procedure, based on a generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM), is used to calculate the results of the bi-directional FG beams. The effects of the two exponential FG indexes, the higher-order shear deformations, the length scale parameter, the geometric dimensions, and the different boundary conditions on the critical buckling loads are studied in detail, by assuming that Young’s modulus obeys an exponential distribution function in both length and thickness directions. To reach the desired critical buckling load, the appropriate exponential FG indexes and geometric shape of micro-beams can be designed according to the proposed theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with a buckling analysis of an embedded nanoplate integrated with magnetoelectroelastic (MEE) layers based on a nonlocal magnetoelectroelasticity theory. A surrounding elastic medium is simulated by the Pasternak foundation that considers both shear and normal loads. The sandwich nanoplate (SNP) consists of a core that is made of metal and two MEE layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the core made of BaTiO3/CoFe2O4. The refined zigzag theory (RZT) is used to model the SNP subject to both external electric and magnetic potentials. Using an energy method and Hamilton’s principle, the governing motion equations are obtained, and then solved analytically. A detailed parametric study is conducted, concentrating on the combined effects of the small scale parameter, external electric and magnetic loads, thicknesses of MEE layers, mode numbers, and surrounding elastic medium. It is concluded that increasing the small scale parameter decreases the critical buckling loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing theories of finite-time stability depend on a prescribed bound on initial disturbances and a prescribed threshold for allowable responses. It remains a challenge to identify the critical value of loading parameter for finite time instability observed in experiments without the need of specifying any prescribed threshold for allowable responses. Based on an energy balance analysis of a simple dynamic system, this paper proposes a general criterion for finite time stability which indicates that finite time stability of a linear dynamic system with constant coefficients during a given time interval [0, t ] is guaranteed provided the product of its maximum growth rate (determined by the maximum eigen-root p >0) and the duration t does not exceed 2, i.e., p t <2. The proposed criterion ( p t =2) is applied to several problems of impacted buckling of elastic columns: (i) an elastic column impacted by a striking mass, (ii) longitudinal impact of an elastic column on a rigid wall, and (iii) an elastic column compressed at a constant speed ('Hoff problem'), in which the time-varying axial force is replaced approximately by its average value over the time duration. Comparison of critical parameters predicted by the proposed criterion with available experimental and simulation data shows that the proposed criterion is in robust reasonable agreement with the known data, which suggests that the proposed simple criterion ( p t =2) can be used to estimate critical parameters for finite time stability of dynamic systems governed by linear equations with constant coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buckling and large deflection behaviors of axis-symmetric radially functionally graded (RFG) ring-stiffened circular plates are investigated by the dynamic relaxation (DR) method combined with the finite difference discretization technique. The material properties of the constituent components of the RFG plate are assumed to vary continuously according to the Mori-Tanaka distribution along the radial direction. The nonlinear governing equations are obtained in the incremental form based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT) and the von Karman relations for large deflection. In the buckling analysis, an external in-plane load is applied to the plate incrementally so that, in each load-step, the incremental form of the governing equations can be solved by a numerical code prepared based on the DR method. After converging the DR code in the first increment, the latter load-step is added to the previous one, and the program is repeated again. The critical buckling load is determined from the compressive load-displacement curve obtained by solving the incremental form of the governing equa- tions. Based on the present incremental form of formulation, a bending analysis can also be conducted if the whole load is applied simultaneously. Finally, a detailed parametric study is carried out to investigate the influences of various boundary conditions, grading indices, thickness-to-radius ratios, stiffener's positions and depths on the critical buckling load, and displacements and stresses resulted from the bending analysis. It is observed that the effect of the stiffener on the results is much greater in the functionally graded plate with higher material grading indices. The results also reveal that, by increasing the depth of the stiffer, the values of ascending the critical buckling load are approximately identical for both simply supported and clamped boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic model for a rotating sandwich annular plate with a viscoelastic core layer is developed. All fundamental equations and boundary conditions are established based on Hamilton's principle, and the rotation effect and viscoelastic properties of the sandwich structure are taken into account. The aerodynamics force acting on the plate is described by a rotating damping model, and the constitutive behavior of the viscoelastic core layer is formulated by the frequency-dependent complex modulus. The effects of geometrical and material parameters on frequencies and damping of forward and backward traveling waves and the dynamic stability for the rotating sandwich plate are numerically analyzed by means of Galerkin's method. The results show that the critical and flutter speeds of the rotating plate can be increased at some certain parameters of the viscoelastic core layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scale effects are studied on the buckling behavior of bilayer composite plates under non-uniform uniaxial compression via the nonlocal theory. Each isotropic plate is composed of a material that is different from others, and the adhesive between the plates is modeled as the Winkler elastic medium. According to the symmetry, effects of the Winkler non-dimensional parameter, the thickness ratio, the ratio of Young's moduli, and the aspect ratio are also considered on the buckling problem of bilayer plates, where only the top plate is under the uniaxial compression. Numerical examples show that the Winkler elastic coefficient, the thickness ratio, and the ratio of Young's moduli play decisive roles in the buckling behavior. Nonlocal effect is significant when the high-order buckling mode occurs or the aspect ratio is small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variational principles for the buckling and vibration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are established with the aid of the semi-inverse method. They are used to derive the natural and geometric boundary conditions coupled by small scale parameters. Hamilton's principle and Rayleigh's quotient for the buckling and vibration of the MWCNTs are given. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to study the buckling and vibration of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) with three typical boundary conditions. The numerical results reveal that the small scale parameter, aspect ratio, and boundary conditions have a profound effect on the buckling and vibration of the SWCNTs and DWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional approach to analysis the buckling of rectangular laminates containing an embedded delamination subjected to the in-plane loading is to simplify the laminate as a beam-plate from which the predicted buckling load decreases as the length of the laminate increases. Two-dimensional analyses are employed in this paper by extending the one-dimensional model to take into consideration of the influence of the delamination width on the buckling performance of the laminates. The laminate is simply supported containing a through width delamination. A new parameter β defined as the ratio of delamination length to delamination width is introduced with an emphasis on the influence of the delamination size. It is found that (i) when the ratio β is greater than one snap-through buckling prevails, the buckling load is determined by the delamination size and depth only; (ii) as the ratio β continues to increase, the buckling load will approach to a constant value. Solutions are verified with the well established results and are found in good agreement with the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most cases, the research on the buckling of a helical spring is based on the column, the spring is equivalent to the column, and the torsion around the axial line is ignored. A three-dimensional (3D) helical spring model is considered in this paper. The equilibrium equations are established by introducing two coordinate systems, the Frenet and the principal axis coordinate systems, to describe the spatial deformation of the center line and the torsion of the cross section of the spring, respectively. By using a small deformation assumption, the variables of the deflection can be expanded into Taylor's series, and the terms of high orders are ignored. Hence, the equations can be simplified to the functions of the twist angle and the arc length, which can be solved by a numerical method. The reaction loads of the spring caused by the axial load subjected to the center point are also discussed, giving the boundary conditions for the solution to the equilibrium equations. The present work is useful to the research on the behavior of the post-buckling of the compressed helical spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The governing equations of elasticity theory for natural vibration and buckling of anisotropic plate are derived from Hellinger-Reissner’s variational principle with nonlinear strain-displacement relations. Simply supported rectangular hybrid plates are studied with a precise integration method. This method, in contrast to the traditional finite difference approximation, gives highly precise numerical results that approach the full computer precision. So the results for natural vibration and stability of hybrid plates presented in the paper can be riewed as approximate analytical solutions. Furthermore, several types of coupling effects such as coupling between bending and twisting, and coupling between extension and bending, when the layer stacking sequence is asymmetric, are considered by only one set of governing equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear vibration fundamental equation of circular sandwich plate under uniformed load and circumjacent load and the loosely clamped boundary condition were established by von Karman plate theory, and then accordingly exact solution of static load and its numerical results were given. Based on time mode hypothesis and the variational method, the control equation of the space mode was derived, and then the amplitude frequency-load character relation of circular sandwich plate was obtained by the modified iteration method. Consequently the rule of the effect of the two kinds of load on the vibration character of the circular sandwich plate was investigated. When circumjacent load makes the lowest natural frequency zero, critical load is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By applying the continuous finite element methods of ordinary differential equations, the linear element methods are proved having second-order pseudo-symplectic scheme and the quadratic element methods are proved having third-order pseudo-symplectic scheme respectively for general Hamiltonian systems, and they both keep energy conservative. The finite element methods are proved to be symplectic as well as energy conservative for linear Hamiltonian systems. The numerical results are in agreement with theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on von Karman plate theory, the issue about nonlinear vibration for circular sandwich plates under circumjacent load with the loosely clamped boundary condition was researched. Nonlinear differential eigenvalue equations and boundary conditions of the problem were formulated by variational method and then their exact static solution can be got. The solution was derived by modified iteration method, so the analytic relations between amplitude and nonlinear oscillating frequency for circular sandwich plates were obtained. When circumjacent load makes the lowest natural frequency zero, critical load is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the mathematical similarity of the axisymmetric eigenvalue problems of a circular plate between the classical plate theory(CPT), the first-order shear deformation plate theory(FPT) and the Reddy’s third-order shear deformation plate theory(RPT), analytical relations between the eigenvalues of circular plate based on various plate theories are investigated. In the present paper, the eigenvalue problem is transformed to solve an algebra equation. Analytical relationships that are expressed explicitly between various theories are presented. Therefore, from these relationships one can easily obtain the exact RPT and FPT solutions of critical buckling load and natural frequency for a circular plate with CPT solutions. The relationships are useful for engineering application, and can be used to check the validity, convergence and accuracy of numerical results for the eigenvalue problem of plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graded multiweb structure of heterogeneous anisotropic materials, which makes full use of the continuous, gradual and changing physical mechanical performance of material properties, has a widespread application in aeroplane aerofoil structure and automobile lightweight structure. On the basis of laminate buckling theory, the equivalent rigidity method is adopted to establish the corresponding constitutive relation and the non-linear buckling governing equation for the graded multiweb structure. In finding the solution, the critical load of buckling under different complicated boundary conditions together with combined loads were obtained and testification of the experimental analysis shows that the calculation results can satisfy the requirements of engineering design in a satisfactory way. Results obtained from the research say that: graded materials can reduce the concentrated stress on the interface in an effective way and weaken the effect of initial defect in materials and thereby improve the strength and toughness of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cubic B-spline taken as trial function, the nonlinear bending of a circular sandwich plate was calculated by the method of point collocation. The support could be elastic. A sandwich plate was assumed to be Reissner model. The formulae were developed for the calculation of a circular sandwich plate subjected to polynomial distributed loads, uniformly distributed moments, radial pressure or radial prestress along the edge and their combination. Buckling load was calculated for the first time by nonlinear theory. Under action of uniformly distributed loads, results were compared with that obtained by the power series method. Excellences of the program written by the spline collocation method are wide convergent range, high precision and universal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A postbuckling analysis is presented for a shear deformable laminated cylindrical panel of finite length subjected to lateral pressure. The governing equations are based on Reddy's higher order shear deformation shell theory with von Kármán-Donnell-type of kinematic nonlinearity. The nonlinear prebuckling deformations and initial geometric imperfections of the panel are both taken into account. A boundary layer theory of shell buckling, which includes the effects of nonlinear prebuckling deformations, large deflections in the postbuckling range, and initial geometric imperfectiosn of the shell, is extended to the case of shear deformable laminated cylindrical panels under lateral pressure. A singular perturbation technique is employed to determine the buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths. The numerical illustrations concern the postbuckling response of perfect and imperfect, moderately thick, cross-ply laminated cylindrical panels. The effects played by transverse shear deformation, panel geometric parameters, total number of plies, fiber orientation, and initial geometric imperfections are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic buckling of thin copper plate induced by laser beam, was analyzed with the numerical integration and disturbance methods of controlling equation. The buckling and post-buckling of thin plate were shown, with the consideration of the temperature distribution, inertia effect and initial deflection. At last, the buckling criterion about the circular plate was obtained and used to investigate the relation between the critical laser intensity and the ratio of thickness and diameter of the plate. The results fit the experimental observation and the FEM simulation very well, and benefit to the understanding of failure phenomenon of structures irradiated by laser beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buckling of a fabric sheet subjected to a uniaxial tension in a direction making arbitrary angle, θ (0°<θ<90°) say, with respect to that of warp is investigated. The equation to determine the buckling direction angle, β say, was obtained and, as illustration, the solution curves of the equation for θ=45° and θ=30° were plotted. It is shown that when the fabric sheet is subjected to tension in non-warp/non-weft direction the out-of-plane buckling of fabric is possible, two buckling modes (flexural and extensional modes) and the both corresponding buckling conditions are obtained. The results given by ZHANG and FU (2001) are the special cases of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on small-deflection buckling equation, a weighted solution for critical load is presented. Usually, it is very difficult to solve the equation for general problems, especially those with complicated boundary conditions. Axisymmetric problem was studied as an example. Influencing factors were found from the equation and averaged as the buckling load by introducing weights. To determine those weights, some special known results were applied. This method solves general complicated problems by using the solutions of special simple problems, simplifies the solving procedure and expands the scope of solvable problem. Compared with numerical solution, it also has fine precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on small-deflection buckling equation, a weighted solution for critical load is presented. Usually, it is very difficult to solve the equation for general problems, especially those with complicated boundary conditions. Axisymmetric problem was studied as an example. Influencing factors were found from the equation and averaged as the buckling load by introducing weights. To determine those weights, some special known results were applied. This method solves general complicated problems by using the solutions of special simple problems, simplifies the solving procedure and expands the scope of solvable problem. Compared with numerical solution, it also has fine precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to develop a new finite element method for analyzing buckling of delaminated composite plates and shells. This is achieved by establishing a new finite element called the reference-surface element. By use of the compatibility condition under Mindlin assumptions, the formulation of the reference-surface element was derived from whichever plate-element or shell-element being capable of analyzing composite plates and shells. This method assures a reasonable description of displacement field and the satisfaction of compatibility conditions for delamination problem. Numerical results for linear delamination buckling of axially compressed shells are presented to validate the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]