Modal Buckling Analysis of Trapezoidal Sheeting

In this paper the linear buckling of simple trapezoidal sheet panels is discussed, in the light of the mechanics-based global-distortional-local classification. The calculations are performed by using the constrained finite element method, which can readily handle trapezoidal sheets and which can easily and objectively separate the global, distortional and local buckling of trapezoidal sheeting. A few demonstrative examples are presented. The examples imitate simple elementary cases, such as simply supported rectangular plates subjected to uni-directional uniform compression or pure shear. The examples prove that the global-distortional-local classification of deformations can meaningfully be applied to understand the complex buckling behavior of trapezoidal sheets.

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