EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF PLATE BUCKLING INDUCED BY SPATIAL TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS

An experimental study of plate buckling induced by spatial temperature gradients is described. A rectangular Hastelloy-X plate is subjected to local line heating by a focused quartz heat lamp. Two parallel plate edges are maintained at constant temperature by coolant flow. Point supports provide well-defined thermal-structural boundary conditions. Test results including temperature and displacements from transient elastic and inelastic tests demonstrate that substantial plate bending occurs due to initial plate warpage and thermally induced membrane compressive stresses.