Abstract:
Meshfree formulation based on the element free Galerkin method (EFGM) in conjunction with moving kriging (MK) shape function is employed to investigate buckling and parametric instability behaviour of shear deformable isotropic and laminated composite trapezoidal plates subjected to different types of non-uniform periodic edge compressive loads. Hamilton’s principle is used to derive the governing equations, which are transformed into the discretized form using the EFG method. The actual pre-buckling stresses are determined from static analysis to evaluate the accurate buckling loads of isotropic and laminated composite trapezoidal plates under non-uniform edge compression. The ordinary differential equations of Mathieu–Hill type are solved using Bolotin’s method to determine regions of dynamic instability. The accuracy of the present formulation is examined first by comparing results with those available in the literature. Thereafter, the influence of geometric parameters, lamination scheme, boundary conditions, static pre-load, and various types of non-uniform edge compression on the critical buckling loads and dynamic instability behaviour of both isotropic and laminated composite trapezoidal plate is investigated. The new results on dynamic stability behaviour of trapezoidal plates under non-uniform edge loads are presented for the first time, which may serve as benchmark results for future research. Furthermore, the time history response and corresponding phase plots are also presented for a better understanding of the dynamic behaviour of the trapezoidal plates.