A nonlinear elastic spline finite strip analysis for thin-walled sections

Abstract A nonlinear elastic analysis based on the spline finite strip method has been developed for studying the post-buckling behaviour of thin-walled sections. The method can handle local, distortional and overall buckling modes in the post-buckling range and the interaction between them. It allows for geometric imperfections, arbitrary loading and non-simple boundary conditions. By comparison, the semi-analytical finite strip method is restricted to simply supported end boundary conditions and a single buckle half-wavelength. The two incremental-iterative strategies adopted in the nonlinear analysis are the arc-length method and the improved iteration method based on displacement control. Switching between load and displacement control can occur automatically as the need arises in an analysis. Numerical examples are presented for comparison with and verification against solutions for the nonlinear behaviour of plates, plate assemblies and cylindrical shells.

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