Buckling of elastic structures under tensile loads.

Typically, structures fail due to buckling if loaded by compression. However, it is important to notice that-especially in lightweight structures-there are several situations in which instabilities, such as buckling or wrinkling, can be observed under tensile loads. In the present paper, a number of problems, dealing with buckling under tensile loads, are presented. Some solutions already contained in former papers of the author are reconsidered, compared to recent results, and extended. Further new results are presented. Bifurcation buckling under tensile loading of beams, plates (with and without cut-outs), rolled metal strips, thin cell walls of metal foams, and of thin metallic films on polymer substrates is treated in this paper. It is made clear that in all cases of buckling under tensile loads eventually compressive stresses are responsible for the loss of stability. Thus, one should carefully differentiate between "buckling under tension" and "buckling under tensile loads". Nonconservative loads as well as material instabilities under tension, such as necking, are not considered in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]