POSTBUCKLING BEHAVIOR OF CENTRALLY CRACKED PLATES UNDER TENSION

The post-buckling behavior of centrally cracked rectangular plates subjected to a uniaxial tension is analyzed by the finite element method, taking into account both geometrical and material nonlinearities. The finite element formulation is based on the total Lagrangian coordinate system and the flow theory of plasticity. The effects of an initial imperfection on buckling deformation are studied in some detail. Post-buckling behavior is discussed in relation to undesirable effects on the fracture of cracked plates. The results of elastic analyses show that the magnitude of the stress intensity factor increases after buckling. The results of elastic-plastic analyses and experiments show that the residual strength of cracked plates is reduced by the interaction between buckling deformation and plastic deformation at the ends of cracks.