Plate buckling

Eigenvalue methods for computing buckling loads

Plate and shell buckling loads are classically computed by solving the eigenvalue problem $\mathbf {K} -\lambda \mathbf {G} (\mathbf {N} )$ where $\mathbf {K}$ is the shell's/plate's stiffness and $\mathbf {G} (\mathbf {N} )$ is its geometric stiffness, dependent on the in-plane (membrane) "stresses", and $\lambda$ is the proportional load factor.