Load increment procedure for post-buckling analysis of laminated plates under in-plane loads by finite strip method

A load increment procedure has been presented to integrate with the finite strip method for the post-buckling analysis of laminated plates when subjected to uniform end shortening. In-plane loads are introduced to reflect the end shortening effect. The Newton-Raphson procedure is implemented to attend a solution that satisfies the equilibrium condition and at the same time meets the loading requirements. Error associated with loading condition is minimised by adjusting the load factor to preserve the rate of convergence. The enhanced capability can be easily incorporated into the context of both classical and shear deformation plate theories. A range of application has been described. Convergence test and numerical results are presented for isotropic plate and laminates with general lay-up arrangement.