Linear buckling analysis of cracked plates by SFEM and XFEM

In this paper, the linear buckling problem for isotropic plates is studied using a quadrilateral element with smoothed curvatures and the extended finite element method. First, the curvature at each point is obtained by a nonlocal approximation via a smoothing function. This element is later coupled with partition of unity enrichment to simplify the simulation of cracks. The proposed formulation suppresses locking and yields elements which behave very well, even in the thin plate limit. The buckling coefficient and mode shapes of square and rectangular plates are computed as functions of crack length, crack location, and plate thickness. The effects of different boundary conditions are also studied. © 2011 by Mathematical Sciences Publishers.