Carbon-based three-dimensional aerographite networks, built from interconnected hollow tubular tetrapods of multilayer graphene, are ultra-lightweight materials recently discovered and ideal for advanced multifunctional applications. In order to predict the bulk mechanical behaviour of networks it is very important to understand the mechanics of their individual building blocks. Here we charact...

This work concerns the critical buckling temperature of functionally graded rectangular thin plates; the properties of functionally graded material vary continuously in accordance with the power law of thickness z. Closed form solutions for the critical thermal parameter are obtained for the plate with the following boundary condition combinations: simply supported, clamped and guided edges, un...

where I ⊂R is an open interval, f(x) is a given function, is a nonlinear di erential operator, and W ( ) ∈ L(I) is a piecewise Gâteaux di erentiable function of = (u); Ua is a closed convex subspace of a re exive Banach space U. This general nonconvex, nonsmooth variational problem appears in many nonlinear systems. For example, in the nonlinear equilibrium problem of Ericksen’s bar subjected t...

Buckling of slender structures is traditionally regarded as a first route toward failure. Here, we provide an alternative perspective on a burgeoning movement where mechanical instabilities are exploited to devise new classes of functional mechanisms that make use of the geometrically nonlinear behavior of their postbuckling regimes. Selected examples are highlighted across length-scales to ill...

Steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) in buildings are known to be an effective means for resisting lateral forces. By using un-stiffened walls and allowing them to buckle, their energy absorption capacity will increase significantly due to the postbuckling capacity. The post-buckling tension field action of SPSWs can provide substantial strength, stiffness and ductility. This paper presents the Fini...

Thermal buckling analysis of square composite laminates with variable stiffness properties is presented. Fiber angles vary spatially and result in material properties that are functions of position. The thermal critical buckling temperatures for such laminates are obtained numerically based on classical lamination theory and the finite element method. In this work, the domain is discretized to ...

In this study, the buckling response of homogeneous circular plates with variable thickness subjected to radial compression based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory in conjunction with von-Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relations is investigated. Furthermore, optimal thickness distribution over the plate with respect to buckling is presented. In order to determine the distr...

In this study, "Buckling Limit of Strain" (B.L.S.) is introduced as one of the most important limiting factors in cold roll forming process. B.L.S. is calculated by the finite element procedure. Then for two particular processes with existing analysis and experimental results, B.L.S. has been determined and evaluated. LUSAS 12.3 is used for finite element analysis. The results show that when bu...

The paper presents a methodology for the enhanced stiffness analysis of parallel manipulators with internal preloading in passive joints. It also takes into account influence of the external loading and allows computing both the non-linear “load-deflection” relation and the stiffness matrices for any given location of the end-platform or actuating drives. Using this methodology, it is proposed ...