A generalized high-order global–local plate theory for nonlinear bending and buckling analyses of imperfect sandwich plates subjected to thermo-mechanical loads

The available plate theories have been generally calibrated using linear strain–displacement expressions. Furthermore, many of them do not consider the transverse normal stress continuity and the transverse flexibility of the sandwich plates. Majority of the investigations performed so far in the buckling analysis of the sandwich plates, have been restricted to linear buckling analysis of the perfect sandwich plates based on theories that either violate the continuity condition of the transverse stresses at the layer interfaces or do not satisfy the mentioned condition when nonlinear strain–displacement expressions are used. Therefore, their results may be unreliable for nonlinear stress and buckling (especially in the postbuckling region) analyses. In the present paper, nonlinear strain–displacement expressions are employed for imperfect sandwich plates subjected to thermo-mechanical loads to propose an accurate global–local theory that satisfies the continuity of all of the transverse stress components. The theory is presented in a compact matrix form. Compatible Hermitian elements with C1 continuity are employed to enhance the results. Buckling and wrinkling loads are detected employing a criterion previously published by the author. Comparisons made in the paper with results reported by well-known references, confirm the accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed theory and the relevant solution algorithm.