Buckling Analysis of Stiffened plates

with straight and curvilinear stiffener(s)

Wei Zhao
Dec,13, 2013
ESM 6044: Theory of plates and shells

Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering

Multidisciplinary Analysis & Design Center for Advanced Vehicles 1

 Outline

Background

Analytical solutions to
straightly stiffened plate

Numerical solutions to
curvilinearly stiffened plate

Summary

Multidisciplinary Analysis & Design Center for Advanced Vehicles 2

 Background
 Panels in wing box can be modeled as plate element, compressive stress,
shear stress, generated by the aerodynamics, can be applied at the edges
of these panels. Local and global buckling can be occurred at such loads or
combination of loads.
 Stiffeners, straight or curve, will be added on both top and bottom skin of the
wing to stiff the panel to resist local mode and buckling.
 Fuselage or submarine can be modeled as cylindrical shell, buckling of
cylindrical shell can occur when they are subjected to the action of axial
compression, circumference pressure , torque, or combination of these
loads.
 Hoop stiffeners or axial stiffener or both can be added on the cylindrical
shell to resist the buckling

(a).
stiffener
Stiffened plate with stiffeners;
(a). Straight stiffeners; stiffener
(b). Curvilinear stiffeners

(b).
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 Elastic stability of flat plate
 Consider the forces applied at the edges of the
plate, shown in Fig. 1, acting in the middle plane,
equilibrium equation:
2 2 2
𝜕 𝑤 𝜕 𝑤 𝜕 𝑤
𝐷𝛻 4 w = q + Nx 2 + Ny 2 + 2Nxy
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

 Consider the case in Fig.2, simply supported

conditions, the deflection of the plate can be
represented as:
∞ ∞
4
𝑚 2 𝑛2 2
𝑚2 𝑚𝜋𝑥 𝑛𝜋𝑦 Fig. 1
𝐷𝜋 + − 𝑁𝑥 𝜋 𝑤 sin sin =0
𝑎2 𝑏 2 𝑎2 𝑚𝑛 𝑎 𝑏
𝑚=1 𝑛=1
2
𝜋2𝐷 𝑚 𝑛2 𝑎
𝑁𝑥 𝑐𝑟 = 2 +𝛽 , 𝛽=
𝑏 𝛽 𝑚 𝑏
Approximate critical buckling stress:

𝜎𝑥,𝑐𝑟 = 𝑁𝑥 ,𝑐𝑟 /ℎ Fig. 2

2
𝜋 2𝐸 ℎ Nx here is applied load, it’s NOT stress! Be
𝜎𝑥 ,𝑐𝑟 = careful on the total potential strain energy
3 1 − 𝜈2 𝑏
when applied with initial stress.
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 Critical buckling parameter and buckling mode

2
𝑚 1
𝐾𝑐𝑟 = +𝛽
𝛽 𝑚

E.g. 𝛽 = 1, m=1k=4;
𝜋2𝐷 3
𝑁𝑥 ,𝑐𝑟 = 4 2 ~ℎ (width and length are fixed)
𝑏

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 Elastic stability of flat plate with
equidistance stiffeners

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Assumptions:
1). The torsion rigidity GJ of stiffeners can be neglected during buckling, stiffeners
are mainly used to increase flexural rigidity of stiffened structures.
2). Global buckling of stiffened structure is considered in this problem, not the
case of local buckling of plate between two stiffeners.

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 Equilibrium Equation Method

𝑎 𝐸𝐼𝑖 𝐴𝑖
𝛽 = ,𝛾 = ,𝛿 =
𝑏 𝐷𝑏 𝑏ℎ

𝑚𝜋𝑥
𝑤 𝑥 = 𝐹 𝑦 sin
𝑎
4
𝑑 𝐹 𝑦 2 2
𝑚𝜋 𝑑 𝐹 𝑦 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑁𝑥
−2 + + 𝐹 𝑦 =0
𝑑𝑦 4 𝑎 𝑑𝑦 2 𝑎 𝑎 𝐷
Compatibility conditions:
 The plate buckles together with stiffener, buckling mode is symmetric about
𝜕𝑤
the line y=0; 𝜕𝑦 = 0.
 The intensity of shear loading transmitted from plate to stiffener contributes to
stiffener equilibrium.
 Outward bending deflections of stiffener and plate are equal.
𝜋 2 𝐷 1 + 𝛽 2 2 + 2𝛾
𝑁𝑥,𝑐𝑟 = 2
𝑏 𝛽 2 1 + 2𝛿
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 Energy Method
Taking
∞ ∞
𝑚𝜋𝑥 𝑛𝜋𝑦
𝑤= 𝐴𝑚𝑛 sin sin
𝑎 𝑏
𝑚=1 𝑛=1
Strain energy 𝑈𝑝 ,𝑈𝑠 and potential energy 𝑇𝑝 and 𝑇𝑠
Total strain energy:
𝑈𝑝
∞ ∞ ∞ 𝑈𝑠
4 2 2 2 4 2
𝜋 𝐷 𝑎𝑏 𝑚 𝑛 𝜋 𝐸𝐼𝑖 𝜋𝑐𝑖 2𝜋𝑐𝑖
𝑈= 𝐴2𝑚𝑛 + + 𝑚4 𝐴𝑚1 sin + 𝐴𝑚2 sin +⋯
2 4 𝑎2 𝑏 2 4𝑎3 𝑏 𝑏
𝑚=1 𝑛=1 𝑚=1

∞ ∞ 2
−𝑁𝑥 𝑎𝑏 𝑚2 𝜋 2 2 𝑁𝑥,𝑖 𝐴𝑖 𝜋 2 𝜋𝑐𝑖 2𝜋𝑐𝑖
𝑇= 𝐴𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚2 𝐴𝑚1 sin + 𝐴𝑚2 sin +⋯
2 4 𝑎2 ℎ 4𝑎 𝑏 𝑏
𝑚=1 𝑛=1 𝑚
𝑇𝑠
𝑇𝑝
Π=𝑈+𝑇
Differentiate Π with respect to 𝐴𝑚𝑛 equating to zero to obtain linear
algebraic homogenous equations, find the critical stress by equating
the determinate of this system to zero.
𝜕Π
=0
𝜕𝐴𝑚𝑛

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 Elastic stability of flat plate with one central
straight stiffener
Introduce some parameters:
𝑎 𝐸𝐼𝑖 𝐴𝑖 𝑏
𝛽 = = 1, 𝛾𝑖 = = 0.4 , 𝛿𝑖 = = 0.02, 𝑐𝑖 =
𝑏 𝐷𝑏 𝑏ℎ 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑠 + 1
The stiffened plate buckles into one half-wave and we can take m=1;
(buckling mode is perpendicular to force-direction). Here stiffeners have
same EI and size.
𝑏
 One stiffener, 𝑐𝑖 = , critical compressive force
2
𝜋 2 𝐷 1 + 𝛽2 2 + 2𝛾 𝜋 2𝐷
𝑁𝑥,𝑐𝑟 = 2 2
= 4.62 2
𝑏 𝛽 1 + 2𝛿 𝑏
1 2
 Two stiffeners, 𝑐𝑖 = 𝑏, b
3 3
𝜋 2 𝐷 1 + 𝛽2 2 + 3𝛾 𝜋 2𝐷
𝑁𝑥,𝑐𝑟 = 2 = 4.91 2
𝑏 𝛽2 1 + 3𝛿 𝑏
𝑏
 𝑖 stiffeners, 𝑐𝑖 = ,……
𝑖+1
1
2 + 𝛽 2 2+2 𝛾 sin2 𝜋𝑐𝑖
𝜋 𝐷 𝑖 𝑖 𝑏 𝜋 2𝐷
𝑁𝑥,𝑐𝑟 = 2 𝜋𝑐𝑖 = 𝐾𝑐𝑟 2
𝑏 2
𝛽 1 + 2 𝑖 𝛿𝑖 sin2 𝑏
𝑏
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 Critical buckling parameter of unstiffened plate
and stiffened plate

Suppose the stiffeners have same size and EI, then we can obtain the critical
buckling parameter K_cr increases as the number of stiffeners increase, shown
in the below plot.

1 + 𝛽2 2 +2 𝛾 sin 2 𝜋𝑐𝑖
𝑖 𝑖 𝑏
𝐾𝑐𝑟 = 𝜋𝑐𝑖
𝛽2 1 + 2 𝑖 𝛿𝑖 sin2
𝑏
For this case, we can increase
the critical buckling
compressive force by
𝜋 2𝐷
𝑁𝑥,𝑐𝑟 = 𝐾𝑐𝑟 ∗ 2 increasing ratio of bending
𝑏
rigidity 𝛾, and decreasing the
area ratio 𝛿 when the number
of stiffener is fixed. Aspect ratio
𝛽 of this plate is fixed in this
case.

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 Weight increment via Critical buckling parameter

Increase thickness
of the plate

Weight increment Increase No.

=Δ𝑊 ∗ 𝑎𝑏ℎ of stiffeners

Difference of
increment of weight.

 Global buckling can be resisted using stiffeners with less weight

increment than that from increasing thickness of the plate;
 It’s efficient and economical configuration;
 Structural optimization.(bending rigidity ratio, and area ratio)
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 Buckling analysis of plates —
Foppl Von Karman plate theory

Flopp Von Karman plate theory

Green-Lagrangian stress tensor
1 𝜕𝑢𝑖 𝜕𝑢𝑗 𝜕𝑢𝑘 𝜕𝑢𝑘
𝜖𝑖𝑗 = 2 + 𝜕𝑢 +
𝜕𝑢𝑗 𝑖 𝜕𝑢𝑖 𝜕𝑢𝑗

𝒖 = 𝑢, 𝑣, 𝑤, 𝜃𝑥 , 𝜃𝑦
Initial stress 𝜎 0 is in-plane stress:
𝜎 0 𝜏 0
𝑥 𝑥𝑦
𝜎0 = 0
𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝜎𝑦0

Plates with initial in-plane stress, i.e. residual stress or thermal stress,
assume is 𝜎 0 .
Total potential energy U
1 𝛼
𝑈= 𝜖 𝑇 𝐷𝑓 𝜖 𝑑𝑉 + 𝛾 𝑇 𝐷𝑠 𝛾 𝑑𝑉 + 𝜎 0 𝑇 𝜖 𝑁𝐿 𝑑𝑉
2 𝑉 2 𝑉 𝑉

𝐾 𝐾𝐺 = 𝐾𝐺𝑠 + 𝐾𝐺𝑏
𝑲 − 𝜆𝑲𝑮 𝒒 = 0
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 Buckling Eigenvalue (Load Factor)

1 1
𝜎0 = ∗ 10−3 Pa
1 1
ℎ
= 0.001;
𝑎
𝑎 = 1;
𝐸 = 69𝑒7 𝑃𝑎
𝜈 = 0.3

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 Stiffened plate with curvilinear stiffener(s)
𝑎
𝑆. 𝑆
Rectangular plate with one curvilinear stiffener

𝜎𝑥
𝑡
𝜎𝑥
stiffener 𝑛 𝑥
𝑎
𝑏
𝑆. 𝑆
𝑆. 𝑆
𝑦 (a)
𝑛 𝑡
𝜎𝑥
stiffener 𝑥
𝑛
𝑡
𝜎𝑥
𝑎

𝑆. 𝑆
(c)
(b)
𝑦
Finite element model of stiffened plate
(8-node plate element & 3-node beam element) Square plate with two curvilinear stiffeners

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 Relevant theories-Plate
 Theory of plate: Foppl-Von Karman plate theory
 Displacement field
𝑈 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑧 ∗ 𝜃𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦
𝑉 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑧 ∗ 𝜃𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦
𝑊 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑤 𝑥, 𝑦

 8-noded isoparametric plate element

8 8
𝑇
𝒙𝑝 = 𝑁𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝒖𝑝 = 𝑵𝑖 𝒖𝑝𝑖 𝒖𝑝 = 𝑢, 𝑣, 𝑤, 𝜃𝑥 , 𝜃𝑦
𝑖=1 𝑖=1

1 𝑇 1 𝑇
Strain energy: 𝑈𝑝/𝑠 = 𝜖𝑃𝐿 𝐷𝑝 𝜖𝑝𝐿 𝑑Ω = 𝑢𝑝𝑇 𝐿𝐿𝑃 𝐷𝑝 𝐿𝐿𝑝 𝑢𝑝 𝑑Ω
2 Ω 2 Ω

Geometric 1 1 𝑇
𝐺𝑝/𝑠 = 𝜎𝑝 𝜖𝑝𝑁𝐿 𝑑Ω = 𝑢𝑝𝑇 𝐿𝑁𝐿 𝑁𝐿
𝑝 𝜎𝑝 𝐿𝑝 𝑢𝑝 𝑑Ω
strain energy: 2 Ω 2 Ω

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 Geometric stiffness matrix
For the analysis of the buckling behavior, the action of the in-
plane loads causing bending strains is considered by which the
stiffness matrix is modified by another matrix 𝐾𝑝𝐺 .

Stretching of an element
Beam

Foppl-Von Karman plate

theory (learned from class)

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 Relevant theories-Beam
 Stiffener- Timoshenko Beam Theory
Uniform cross section, homogenous, isotropic and linearly elastic
material. y n
𝒓𝑠 = 𝑥𝑠 , 𝑦𝑠

Local coordinates are defined by 𝑡, 𝑛 and 𝑏 in 𝛼 t

tangential, normal and binormal directions x

 Three-node isoparametric beam element

3

𝒓𝑠 = 𝑁𝑗 𝑟𝑠𝑗
𝑗=1

 Displacement field
3

𝒖𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 , 𝑣𝑛 , 𝑤𝑏 , 𝜃𝑡 , 𝜃𝑏 , 𝒖𝑠 = 𝑁𝑗 𝒖𝑠𝑗
𝑗=1

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 Relation of two displacement fields
Displacement Compatibility Conditions:
Point A, B and C are three nodes in beam element, also
they are located in the plate. So, for isoparametric A
element, we can obtain:
Coordinates of three points: B
8 8

𝒓𝑠,𝐴 = 𝑵𝑖,𝐴 ∗ 𝒓𝑖,𝑝 , 𝒓𝑠,𝐵 = 𝑵𝑖,𝐵 ∗ 𝒓𝑖,𝑝 , C

𝑖=1 𝑖=1
8

𝒓𝑠,𝐶 = 𝑵𝑖,𝐶 ∗ 𝒓𝑖,𝑝

𝒓𝑖,𝑝 , 𝒖𝑖,𝑝
𝑖=1

Displacement field of three points A,B and C in plate:

8 8 8

𝒖𝑠,𝐴 = 𝑵𝑝,𝐴 ∗ 𝒖𝑖,𝑝 , 𝒖𝑠,𝐵 = 𝑵𝑝,𝐵 ∗ 𝒖𝑖,𝑝 , 𝒖𝑠,𝐶 = 𝑵𝑝,𝐶 ∗ 𝒖𝑖,𝑝

𝑖=1 𝑖=1 𝑖=1
Displacement field of stiffener:
3 8

𝒖𝑠 = 𝑵𝑗 ∗ 𝒖𝑗 = 𝑵𝑗 𝑵𝑖 𝒖𝑖,𝑝 = 𝑵𝑝𝑠 𝒖𝑝
𝑗=𝐴,𝐵,𝐶 𝑗=1 𝑖=1

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 Total potential energy
Coordinates and displacement fields of plate and stiffeners
can be represented by interpolation of coordinates and
displacement of plate, respectively. Obtain the total strain
energy of stiffener and plate, 𝑈𝑠 and 𝑈𝑃 ,and Geometry strain
energy (derive from the nonlinear strain term), 𝐺𝑃 and 𝐺𝑠 .
Employ Hamilton principle to obtain

𝑲 + 𝜆𝑐𝑟 𝑲𝑮 𝒒 = 0

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 Square plate with one curvilinear stiffener

First buckling mode shape, 𝜆𝑐𝑟 = 31.158

E = 69000MPa,
ρ = 2823kg/m3,
μ = 0.3,
a = b = 120mm
t = 1.2mm
w = 1.1447mm
h = 12.5794mm
1 0
𝜎0 = ∗ MPa
0 1
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 Rectangle plate with 2 curvilinear stiffeners

First buckling mode shape, 𝜆𝑐𝑟 = 19.053

E = 73GPa,
ρ = 2837kg/m3,
μ = 0.33,
a = 606.9mm,
b = 711.2mm,
t = 4mm,
w = 10.525mm,
h = 34.598mm
1 0
𝜎0 = ∗ MPa
0 1
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 Summary
 Stiffener can help to resist local buckling without much
more weight increment of whole structure;
 Different kinds of stiffeners, straight or curve, can be
selected based on the types of loads applied, structural
optimization can be employed to obtain the optimal
stiffened structures.
 Highlight on current FEA of stiffened plate is saving
meshing step in commercial software, ANSYS, ABQUAS,
NASTRAN, etc., which increase the efficiency of
structural optimization of stiffened structure.

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 References
 P.S.Bulson, The stability of flat plates, Chatto&Windus, London,
1970
 J.S.Rao, Dynamics of Plates, Narosa Publishing House, 1999
 Irving H. Shames and Clive L.Dym, Energy and Finite Element
Methods in Structural Mechanics. New Age International LtD, 1991
 Stephen P. Timoshenko and James M. Gere, Theory of Elastic
Stability, McGRAW-Hill Book Company, INC, 1961.

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