Non Classical Problems in the Theory of Elastic Stability

Luis A. Godoy
Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, UPRM

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Topics covered in this presentation

What is buckling? What is a classical problem (or a field, or a concept, or)? What are the present classical theories of Elastic Stability? What is a non-classical problem? What are non-holonomic problems?

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

What is buckling?

Leonhard Euler (1707-1783)

Pc = EI ( ) L

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

What is buckling?

New structural shape Buckled mode

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Lessons learned
Euler did not study what we are told he studied in 1742 Euler needed the input of previous research on elastica by Bernoulli Euler was not the first to find the phenomenon: experimental work of van-Musschenbroek of 1729 showed the inverse relation between critical load and square of the column length. He tested wood columns. This was not an important contribution for Euler, only published one memoir on the topic. What we now call critical load is the value of the control parameter at which the behavior changes. What we call the critical mode is a deflected shape associated with reaching the critical load. There may be several different frames to explain a phenomenon, and frames change with time.

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Knowledge may be considered Classical if

Sociology of Science It has permeated into formal levels of instruction: Included in graduate education (INCI 6057). Included in undergraduate education. Included in K-12 as research projects. It may be found in textbooks or monographs: Graduate books (Thompson and Hunt, Godoy). Undergraduate textbooks and manuals (Timoshenko) Popular science books. It was formulated long time ago. There are conferences on the subject (i.e. Dynamics and Stability of Structures) It has been around for so long, that most researchers in related fields know about it.

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Many books on Classical Buckling/Stability Problems

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Knowledge may be considered Classical if

Epistemology It falls within the structure of a theory: Normal science, according to Thomas Kuhn. Protective belt, according to Imre Lakatos. It is an illustration of an established theory and provides confirmation through evidence. It is a new technique to solve problems defined within the theory (finite element solution of stability problems). It is an application of an established theory to a new case, under special conditions (Buckling of three dimensional solids). It is an application of an established theory to a new field. It provides the theoretical basis to reformulate another field (i.e. stability approach to fracture mechanics: it becomes non-classical for fracture mechanics, but still it is classical stability).

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Knowledge is non-classical only with respect to something which is considered to be classical.

Classical theories 1744, Leonhard Euler (1707-1783) 1890, G. Bryan, Theory of Elastic Stability 1945, Warner T. Koiter, (19141997) General Theory of Elastic Stability

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Energy formulation for a discrete structural system

Another school, but Still the same classical theory

Eigenvalue problem No general proof available

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Lessons learned
You can formulate the theory first, then discretize (the path followed by Koiter). There are schools of mechanics that accept this as the only formally smart way to work. This is a dominant school in France, Italy, Brazil, Your can discretize first, then formulate the theory. This is a dominant school in England, Canada, parts of the US,
Discretization

Energy

Discrete Energy

Continuous Formulation Discretization FE model

Discrete formulation

FE model

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Things you would like to know

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Classification of Critical States, according to Koiter

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Simple experiments on axially loaded cylindrical shells, onset of buckling

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Lessons learned
What really matters is the onset of instability. The initial postcritical behavior is determined by the stability of the critical state. To visualize the initiation of instability you need to perform displacement controlled experiments, not load controlled. Students prefer to do their experiments using Heineken, rather than CocaCola (limited evidence, but conclusive).

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Critical loads from 20 tests on axially loaded cylinders (same students, same testing machine, same day)

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Lessons learned
Small geometric imperfections are responsible for a drastic reduction in the buckling load with respect to the classical (Timoshenko) critical load. The theory was applied to this problem by Koiter in 1963. Koiter considered a deterministic imperfection, with a fixed shape and variable amplitude, which was included as a new control parameter. The theory was extended to account for small imperfections, of the order of the thickness of the shell. The worst imperfection shape is that provided by the classical critical load. Imperfection-sensitivity may be High (Cylinder/axial load, sphere/uniform pressure) Moderate (cylinder/lateral pressure, cylinder/wind pressure) Low (column/axial load, plate/in-plane load)

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

More things you would like to know

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Two classical forms of buckling, and their post-critical paths

Limit Point Buckling

Bifurcation buckling

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Even more things you would like to know

Pc = EI ( ) L
Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Examples of Buckling, leading to collapse or part of normal operation

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Influence of small and large imperfections on buckling strength

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Simulation of buckling process of a tank due to wind pressures

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Examples of Non-Classical Problems in

Non-Classical Problems in the Theory of Elastic Stability Non-Classical Vibrations of Arches and Beams Non-Classical Shell Problems Non-Classical Elastic Solids Non-Classical Continuum Mechanics Non-Classical Physics
Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Knowledge may be considered Non-Classical if

Epistemology It falls outside the structure of a theory. It is not an application of an established theory to a new case. Sociology of Science It is very new (nonsense). Most recent knowledge is classical. It may not be found in textbooks. none of the subjects, touched upon in this monograph, have been discussed exclusively in the existing books on buckling analysis (Elishakoff et al.). It goes beyond the basic assumptions of the theory, so that it needs to be extended (stability of nonholonomic problems). This pushes the frontiers of a theory. It merges a theory with another one to combine two fields (stability and probability analyses, stability and sensitivity/optimization). It has not yet found a proper place within a theory. It challenges the theory to which it is associated (Catastrophe Theory).

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Basic assumptions in the General Theory of Elastic Stability

Discrete or continuous systems Elastic material behavior Static conditions Conservative systems (an energy functional exists) Deterministic analysis (no uncertainties) One load parameter (even if there are many loads) Holonomic system (there are no constraints on the values of displacements, and the boundary conditions do not change)

Instability of Inelastic solids Dynamic Instability Dynamic Buckling (Budiansky) Non conservative systems (Leipholz) Probabilistic systems (some random features, Bolotin, Elishakoff) Multiple parameter theory (Huseyin, catastrophe theory) Non-Holonomic systems (Burgess, our work)

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

An example of non-classical problem: Stability of Non Holonomic Systems

One-Way Systems

There are constraints on the values of displacements, and the boundary conditions may change
Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Reformulation of the energy functional for non-holonomic systems

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Perturbation analysis of the Lagrangian

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Equilibrium paths

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Non-holonomic Systems: Changes in the boundary conditions

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

Summary

Non-Classical Problems in Stability

And thats the end

Non-Classical Problems in Stability