Numerical study and experiments on the elasto-visco-plastic bifurcation buckling of thick anisotropic plates

Abstract The present work investigates the elasto-visco-plastic buckling of thick plate structures. Methods to estimate the buckling of thin elasto-visco-plastic shells and plates are proposed in literature. To the knowledge of the authors, only few works present experimental results, and none treat the experimental elasto-visco-plastic buckling of thick plate. Thick rectangular plates are chosen as a structure of interest to study elasto-visco-plastic buckling. A modelling/experimental approach is followed to solve such problem. Buckling experiments at room temperature on thick elasto-visco-plastic plates subjected to compressive load are performed. 3D digital image correlation (3D-DIC) is used to measure displacement fields on plate surface during buckling experiments. The experiments are also modelled through a finite element model. Bodner’s approach is coupled to Hencky’s deformation theory to predict buckling of elasto-visco-plastic plates. Bifurcation analysis are performed to estimate buckling critical stresses and strains, and buckling modes. Geometrical and loading imperfections are also discussed. A good correlation is observed between numerical results and experiments. The limitation of Bodner’s approach is also discussed.