NACA-TN-1817

Abstract

INTRODUCTION <br>A theory was recently presented in reference 1 for the plastic buckling under compression of plates with different conditions of support and restraint along the unloaded edges. Good experimental verification of the theory was available at that time for the special cases of plates with the two unloaded edges free (columns) end of plates with one unloaded edge free and the other stiplg supported (flanges). No suitable experimental data were then available, however, for plates with both unloaded edges supported. <br>Various methods have been used to make buckling tests of simply supported plates Fn compression. One method utilizes plate-edge support fixtures. (See, for example, reference 2.) Such fixtures have not always proved satisfactory because of restraints and supporting conditions developed along the unloaded edges. A method which overcomes this difficulty and has proved quite satisfactory for the determination of buckling makes use of seamless square tubes, for Which each of the four plates may be considered simply supported. (See p. 333, reference 3.) <br>In order to obtain experimental data in the plastic range for the case of the compressed simply supported plate to provide additional evidence as to the validity of the theory of reference 1, tests were made of- drawn square tubes of 14S-T6 aluminum alloy. The present paper gives the results of these tests and shows the correlation found with various available theories for plastic buckling.