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An energy-based solution for calculating the buckling loads of partially anisotropic stiffened plates is presented, such as antisymmetric cross-ply and angle-ply laminations. A discrete approach, for the mathematical modelling and formulations of the stiffened plates, is followed. The developed formulations extend the Rayleigh–Ritz method and explore the available anisotropic unstiffened plate buckling solutions to the interesting cases of stiffened plates with some degree of material anisotropy. The examined cases consider simply supported unstiffened and stiffened plates under uniform and linearly varying compressive loading. Additionally, a reference finite element (FE) model is developed to compare the calculated buckling loads and validate the modelling approach for its accuracy. The results of the developed method are also compared with the respective experimental results for the cases where they were available in the literature. Finally, an extended discussion regarding the assumptions and restrictions of the applied Rayleigh–Ritz method is made, so that the limitations of the developed method are identified and documented.
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; Labeas, George N 2 1 Laboratory of Strength of Materials, Department of Aeronautical Sciences, Division of Aeronautics, Applied Mechanics and Infrastructure, Hellenic Air Force Academy, 13671 Attica, Greece
2 Laboratory of Technology and Strength of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26500 Rion, Greece;