Critical Loads of Square Plates Under Different Inplane Load Configurations on Opposite Edges

The elastic critical load coefficients of square plates, under different inplane load configurations on opposite plate edges, are determined and the results compared. The stability analysis was performed by a finite element method that was developed by the authors. The parameters considered in the analysis are the Kinney's fixity factor, and the width factor of the patch load. It was found that the coefficients of the critical loads increase with increasing values of fixity and width factors. The opposite tendency is that a plate under a patch loaded towards the two corners of an edge is more stable than a plate loaded concentrically at the center of the edge.