Thermomechanical postbuckling analysis of imperfect laminated plates of softening nonlinear elastic foundations

Using the classical laminated plate theory, including plate-foundation interaction and thermal effects, thermal postbuckling perturbation analysis is presented for a simply supported, composite laminated plate subjected to combined axial compression and uniform temperature loading and resting on a softening nonlinear elastic foundation. The two cases of thermal postbuckling of initially compressed plates and of compressive postbuckling of initially heated plates are considered. The initial geometrical imperfection of the plate is taken into account. Numerical examples are presented. The effects of foundation stiffness, plate aspect ratio, fiber orientation, total number of layers and initial geometrical imperfection are studied. Typical results are presented in dimensionless graphical form and exhibit interesting imperfection sensitivity. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.