Non-linear bending, buckling and failure of elastic thin circular plates under combined thermal and force loading

Governing equations of the non-linear dynamic response of an axisymmetric elastic thin circular plate, which was subjected to an arbitrarily transverse force and thermal energy deposit were formulated. The deformation features of circular plates and factors affecting failure were discussed by a quasi-static analysis. It is shown that thermal bucking is one of the major failure modes of thin circular plates in the cases of short duration thermal energy deposit. Thermal buckling occurs before reverse buckling or reverse plugging. Similar to the increase of the transverse load, the increase of thermal energy deposit accelerates thermal buckling. Both the temperature-dependence of materials properties and time-space distribution of thermal energy deposit significantly influence the mechanical response and failure of thin circular plates.