The effect of the dynamic response of the composite plate depends on various parameters. These include the imperfection ratios whose values determine the predeflection shape of the plate. A plate subjected to mechanical and thermal loads increasing in time formulates a time-dependent complex problem, whose results are strongly related to the plate geometrical parameters. The annular and circular composite plates, which can be used in different kinds of industries, such as mechanical, civil engineering, and aerospace, can be subjected to the complex work conditions. This is the reason that the thermomechanical evaluation of plate sensitivity is still a current issue addressed in numerous works. Few works strictly focus on the issue of the imperfection of composite annular plates. Selected papers concerning the issue of buckling of mechanically or/and thermally loaded plates where the plate geometry has been taken into account are presented in the literature review.
The general solution and dynamic behavior of sandwich annular and circular plates are presented in works [1] and [2]. The thermal buckling effect of moderately thick functionally graded material (FGM) annular plate is presented in paper [3]. The thermoelastic problem showing the reactions of the imperfect, radially graded annular plate with a heated edge is presented in work [4]. The effect of temperature on the buckling behavior of the annular plate is presented in papers [5,6,7]. The elements of the critical state, like critical temperature and the corresponding modes, are examined for different materials and geometrical plate parameters. The FGM annular plates with imperfections are presented in paper [8]. Both buckling and dynamic postbuckling reactions are the main problems of consideration. The thermomechanical buckling of perforated, functionally graded annular sector plates under uniform temperature rises and radial, circumferential, or biaxial mechanical loads is investigated in work [9]. The final results present the effect of the sector geometry, direction of the mechanical loads, and the combination of the thermal and mechanical loads on the buckling loads and mode shapes. The viscoelastic FGM annular plates with different geometrical, material, and load parameters are presented in work [10]. The paper presents the unified dynamic analysis method for a viscoelastic FGM annular plate.
The novelties presented in this paper concern the numerical investigations which are focused on the evaluation of the reactions of the composite plate to the action of the temperature field or the participation of the temperature field in complex thermomechanical loading. The imperfection of the shape geometry of the plate's initial surface is the main analyzed element, which changes the dynamic response of the plate. The effect of various geometrical imperfect forms of the plate surface predeflection has been examined: waved circumferential predeflection, which corresponds to the plate buckling mode, complex initial shape, which is composed of rotational axisymmetrical predeflection, and the circumferential waved form for positive or mixed positive and negative numbers, which calibrate the grade of plate predeflection. The participation of various imperfections of the plate surface, which initiate the dynamic buckling phenomenon, complements the existing analyses and significantly enriches the cognition of the examined layered structure of the plate showing its resistance to the shape imperfections. The presented exemplary results of the numerous numerical analyses create both a practically important and scientifically interesting image of the buckling sensitivity of the structures to existing imperfections. Some numerical results are presented in work [11]. The additional and wider observations, numerical calculations, and results shown in the figures and the tables presented in this work make recognition of the formulated problem richer. To the best of the author's knowledge, the so-formulated thermomechanical problem and the idea to observe the plate buckling sensitivity on variously defined imperfections have not been sufficiently considered.
The method of the analytical and numerical solution to the problem as proposed in this paper refers to the solution of mechanically loaded annular plate presented in works [12], [13], [14]. The imperfection issue is analyzed in work [14] and particularly in work [15] for plates that are only loaded mechanically. Thermal and thermomechanical problems are examined for a layered, composite plate in work [16], [17]. The observations for a composite three-layered plate with a core layer made of viscoelastic material are presented in [18].
The three-layered annular plate composed of thin steel facings and a thicker foam core is the object of consideration. The plate cross section is symmetric. The analyzed forms of plate buckling can be axisymmetrical or asymmetrical. The plate is subjected to a complex thermomechanical state of loading. It is mechanically loaded by the compressing forces linearly increasing in time, which are uniformly distributed on the outer facings. The temperature field surrounds the plate's inner and outer perimeters. The temperature difference between the inner and outer plate edges creates the thermal gradient. The temperature difference can be fixed, constant in time, or it can change, dynamically increasing in time. Three models of loading, showing the temperature field effect on the dynamic plate reaction, are acceptable: thermal loading with the temperature difference between the plate edges increasing in time, both mechanical and thermal loading with mechanical and thermal loads increasing in time, and mechanical loading increasing in time, which is connected to the constant in time action of the temperature field. It should be emphasized that thermal loading is defined by the uncoupled temperature field, whose parameters are arbitrarily assumed.
The equations (1) and (2) express the thermomechanical loading quickly increasing in time:
The plate is loaded mechanically with the compressive forces uniformly distributed on the outer perimeter of the facings. The action of the outer forces on the lateral surfaces of both plate facings determines the compressive mechanical stress
Figure 1
Scheme of thermomechanical loading of a three-layered annular plate built of outer layers 1 and 3 and middle layer 2.

The main assumptions which are adopted to describe the thermal environment are as follows:
axisymmetric and flat temperature field, the lack of heat exchange between the plate surfaces, the heat flow is only in a radial direction of the plate facings (see Eq. (3)), and the material parameters are fixed and do not depend on temperature changes.
To express the parameters of the dynamic critical state of the plate, the criterion of the loss of plate stability was assumed. According to the criterion presented by Wolmir [19], the plate loses its stability at the moment when the first maximum value of deflection velocity is observed for the point with the maximum deflection.
The main method of solution is based on an analytical and numerical analysis which uses the following approximation methods: orthogonalization and finite difference (the Finite Difference Model – FDM plate). The influence of various ratios of imperfections on plate stability response is expressed by the elements of assumed equation (9), which determine the shapes of plate predeflection. Equation (9) is composed of two terms: axisymmetrical and a term dependent on the number of circumferential waves. Assumed calibrating numbers change the participation of the mentioned two terms and make it possible to produce various forms of plate predeflection. The solution procedure is presented in the works [12,13,14,17] in detail.
Additionally, the finite element method has been used to evaluate selected examples of the plates being examined (the Finite Element Method - FEM plate). The ABAQUS system was used to conduct the calculations.
The main elements of the solution procedure are as follows: formulation of the system of the dynamic equilibrium equations of each plate layer, description of the transversally symmetrical deformation of the three-layered structure, formulation of the equations for angles describing the broken line in the plate cross section for the core layer in radial and circumferential directions, usage of the linear physical relation in the plate facings and the core, formulation of the sectional forces and moments in facings including the thermal elements, and determination of the resultant membrane forces including the assumed stress function.
The temperature distribution in the radial direction of the plate facings is expressed by the logarithmic equation [20]
The basic equation describing the plate deflections in the dynamic problem takes the following form:
Equation (4) has been obtained after adding the summands of the dynamic equilibrium equations of forces in the transversal plate direction, which have been derived for each plate layer: the facings and the core. Then, the relations for the resultant radial and circumferential forces and the resultant membrane forces expressed by the introduced stress function
The boundary conditions for the plate slidably clamped on both edges are as follows:
Conditions for the plate edges subjected to only thermal loads are expressed by the equation
The solution is based on shape functions for the additional plate deflection
Using the orthogonalization method after elimination of the angular variable
The Runge–Kutta's integration method for the initial state of the plate has been used in the solution of the presented system of equations.
The dimensionless time connected with mechanical loading (see Equation (1)) is expressed by
The plate model built with the use of the finite element method has been calculated in the ABAQUS system. The calculations were carried out at the Academic Computer Center CYFRONET-CRACOW (KBN/SGI_ORIGIN_2000/PLodzka/030/1999). The dynamic module is the main option, which was applied in the dynamic solution procedure [22]. The three-layered structure of the FEM plate model is composed of shell elements and solid ones to build the meshes of the plate facings and the core, respectively. 3D nine-node shell elements with six active degrees of freedom and 3D 27-node solid elements with three active degrees of freedom were used. The surface contact interaction with the TIE option was assumed to connect the surfaces of the facings and the core meshes.
Table 1 presents the assumed material, geometrical, and loading parameters of the examined plate models.
Parameters of the plate model.
Geometrical parameters | |||
Inner radius | 0.2 | ||
Outer radius | 0.5 | ||
Facing thickness | 1 | ||
Core thickness | 5 | ||
Ratio of plate initial deflection | 0.5, 1, 2 | ||
Material parameters | |||
Steel facing | Polyurethane foam of core | ||
Young's modulus | 210 | 13 | |
Kirchhoff's modulus | 80 | 5 | |
Poisson's ratio | 0.3 | 0.3 | |
Mass density | 7850 | 64 | |
Linear expansion coefficient a, 1/K | 1.2×10−5 | a2, 1/K | 7×10−5 |
Loading parameters | |||
Rate of thermal loading growth | 200 (20), 800 (20) | ||
Rate of mechanical loading growth | 931 (20) | ||
Constant temperature difference | 800 |
The ratio
Two main models of plate loading are analyzed: a plate thermally loaded and a plate mechanically and thermally loaded. The critical dynamic temperature difference
The first step of numerical analysis, which is performed with using the finite difference method, is the choice of the number
The values of the dynamic, critical temperature differences
0 | 128.6 | 130.0 | 130.1 | 131.6 | 131.5 |
1 | 131.9 | 133.7 | 133.7 | 134.2 | 134.7 |
2 | 133.5 | 135.5 | 135.5 | 137.2 | 137.0 |
3 | 126.4 | 129.3 | 131.2 | 130.9 | 132.4 |
4 | 117.5 | 120.7 | 122.1 | 123.5 | 124.8 |
5 | 108.7 | 112.3 | 114.9 | 115.9 | 117.1 |
6 | 105.7 | 108.9 | 110.4 | 112.8 | 113.8 |
7 | 103.8 | 106.8 | 108.8 | 109.5 | 111.7 |
8 | 103.7 | 107.9 | 110.3 | 112.8 | 116.4 |
The values of the dynamic, critical mechanical loads
30.74/26.4 | 29.35/25.2 | 31.21/26.8 | 30.74/26.4 | 31.21/26.8 |
In summary, it can be noticed that values of the critical temperature difference and the critical load are converged. It confirms that the solution process is correct and the numerical calculations are accurate.
Figures 2 and 3 show a comparison of the thermal reaction of two FDM plate models: axisymmetrical
Figure 2
Deflections of the axisymmetrical

Figure 3
Deflections of the asymmetrical

Values of critical temperature differences
200 | 130.0 | 130.2 | 130.7 |
800 | 132.0 | 128.4 | 126.8 |
Values of critical temperature differences
200 | 107.4 | 108.0 | 108.2 |
800 | 108.8 | 108.4 | 108.4 |
Exemplary time histories of plate deflection and velocity of deflection for the FDM and FEM plate models are shown in Figure 4. Additionally, the axisymmetric
Figure 4
Time histories of deflections and velocity of deflection for plate model

Values of critical temperature differences
200 | 115.2 | 121.2 | 129.2 |
800 | 124.8 | 128.0 | 132.8 |
In summary, it can be observed that the analyzed plate modes
The two plate modes
Figure 5
Deflections of the asymmetrical

Figure 6
Time histories of deflections for the FDM plate with

Figure 7
Deflections of a) axisymmetrical plate mode

Figure 8
Time histories of deflections and velocity of deflections for the axisymmetrical

Figure 9
Time histories of deflections and velocity of deflections for a) FDM plate model and b) FEM plate model

Figure 5 shows the effect of the imperfection ratio
A comparison between the reactions of plate modes
Values of critical dynamic mechanical loads
0 | 35.8/0 | 35.8/0 |
200 | 34.47/7.4 | 37.26/8.0 |
800 | 27.12/23.2 | 42.39/36.4 |
Δ | 22.36/19.2 | 44.25/38.0 |
Additionally, the effect of the negative value of imperfection ratio
Figure 8 shows the exemplary results presented for the axisymmetric (
Additionally, the correspondence of results between the two plate models is shown in Fig. 9. The plate is loaded mechanically and thermally with a positive gradient and a temperature growth rate
The obtained results can be summarized as follows:
The minimal value of There is a difference between the responses of plates subjected to the temperature field increasing in time and constant in time. The direction of temperature gradient affects the values of critical loads A greater value of imperfection ratio The direction of the plate's initial deflection does not affect the plate response. The results obtained for the FDM and FEM plate models are comparable.
Figures 10 and 11 show the FDM plate model response to thermal and thermomechanical loading. The assumed plate imperfection is composed of two forms: the axisymmetrical one expressed by the calibrating number
Figure 10
Deflections of the FDM plate model

Figure 11
Deflections of the FDM plate model

Figure 10 shows the plate's behavior which was invoked by thermal loading only. The increase in the axisymmetrical form of imperfection expressed by calibrating the number
The effect of mechanical loads significantly changes the nature of plate responses. The effect of the additional axisymmetric imperfection shape is presented in Figure 11a. It should be underlined that the main axisymmetrical imperfection is expressed by the second term of Equation (9) for a non-zero value of calibrating number
The effect of the mixed participation of the values of imperfection ratios on the run of deflection curves
Figure 12
Deflections of the FDM waved

The waved form of plate deflection in a radial direction obtained for selected numbers of ratios
Figure 13
Influence of imperfection ratios on the distribution of the FDM waved

The presented results can be summarized as follows:
The effect of the additional axisymmetric form of plate predeflection expressed by the calibrating number The imperfection of plates working in a thermal environment and subjected to mechanical loads has little effect on the critical values, which is dependent on the form of plate buckling. The results show that plate dynamic buckling can be expressed by a range of values of critical parameters. Values of ratios
The paper presents the effect of the temperature field on the stability reaction of a plate with various forms of imperfection. A three-layered annular plate with thin steel facings and a thicker foam core was examined. Different shapes and ratios of imperfection were considered. The thermal effect on the plate response was analyzed for plates subjected to only the thermal environment or plates both mechanically loaded and surrounded by a temperature field that increased in time or was fixed in time. Different elements which characterize the field of assumed loading were taken into account. They are as follows: the temperature gradient direction, the dynamic effect expressed by the rate of temperature difference growth, the effect of the mechanical loading growth, the sensitivity of the examined plate to negative imperfections, and the participation of the axisymmetrical term in complex Equation (9), which expresses the form of imperfection. Vibrations are an additional element which characterizes the dynamic response of the plate. In the undertaken analysis, vibrations were observed in the overcritical region of plate work under the increasing load in time. Particularly, the plate oscillations existed for plates with the axisymmetrical buckling mode
The results presented herein show a different effect of imperfection parameters on the values of critical temperature differences for plates located in a temperature field. It depends on the participation of two assumed ratios
Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7
![Deflections of a) axisymmetrical plate mode m = 0 [11], b) asymmetrical plate mode m = 7 versus negative and positive imperfection ratios ξ2 under mechanical load and thermal load with a negative gradient.](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64737a3e4e662f30ba53f8da/j_sgem-2023-0005_fig_007.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20230930T121902Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=18000&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA6AP2G7AKP25APDM2%2F20230930%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=60de26716e1eda98cc91cff786dc53844ad01df0f864d78cd109d63c53447c13)
Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Values of critical dynamic mechanical loads pcrdyn and corresponding temperature differences ΔTb for the axisymmetrical m = 0 FDM plate model thermomechanically loaded and imperfected with ratio ξ2 = 2.
0 | 35.8/0 | 35.8/0 |
200 | 34.47/7.4 | 37.26/8.0 |
800 | 27.12/23.2 | 42.39/36.4 |
Δ |
22.36/19.2 | 44.25/38.0 |
Values of critical temperature differences ΔTcrdyn for the axisymmetrical m = 0 FDM plate model versus the imperfection ratio ξ2 under a temperature field with a positive gradient and two rates a = 200 K/s and a = 800 K/s.
200 | 130.0 | 130.2 | 130.7 |
800 | 132.0 | 128.4 | 126.8 |
Values of critical temperature differences ΔTcrdyn for the axisymmetrical m = 0 FEM plate model versus the imperfection ratio ξ2 under a temperature field with a positive gradient and two rates a = 200 K/s and a = 800 K/s.
200 | 115.2 | 121.2 | 129.2 |
800 | 124.8 | 128.0 | 132.8 |
Values of critical temperature differences ΔTcrdyn for the asymmetrical m = 7 FDM plate model versus the imperfection rate ξ2 under a temperature field with a positive gradient and two rates a = 200 K/s and a = 800 K/s.
200 | 107.4 | 108.0 | 108.2 |
800 | 108.8 | 108.4 | 108.4 |
The values of the dynamic, critical temperature differences ΔTcrdyn depending on the number N of discrete points for the FDM plate model with the imperfection ratio ξ2 = 0.5 subjected to a positive gradient of the temperature field.
0 | 128.6 | 130.0 | 130.1 | 131.6 | 131.5 |
1 | 131.9 | 133.7 | 133.7 | 134.2 | 134.7 |
2 | 133.5 | 135.5 | 135.5 | 137.2 | 137.0 |
3 | 126.4 | 129.3 | 131.2 | 130.9 | 132.4 |
4 | 117.5 | 120.7 | 122.1 | 123.5 | 124.8 |
5 | 108.7 | 112.3 | 114.9 | 115.9 | 117.1 |
6 | 105.7 | 108.9 | 110.4 | 112.8 | 113.8 |
7 | 103.8 | 106.8 | 108.8 | 109.5 | 111.7 |
8 | 103.7 | 107.9 | 110.3 | 112.8 | 116.4 |
The values of the dynamic, critical mechanical loads pcrdyn with the corresponding temperature differences ΔTb for the axisymmetric FDM plate model (m = 0) with the imperfection ratio ξ2 = 2 subjected to a mechanical load and increasing with the value a = 800 K/s temperature field with a positive gradient.
30.74/26.4 | 29.35/25.2 | 31.21/26.8 | 30.74/26.4 | 31.21/26.8 |
Parameters of the plate model.
Geometrical parameters | |||
Inner radius |
0.2 | ||
Outer radius |
0.5 | ||
Facing thickness |
1 | ||
Core thickness |
5 | ||
Ratio of plate initial deflection |
0.5, 1, 2 | ||
Material parameters | |||
Steel facing | Polyurethane foam of core | ||
Young's modulus |
210 | 13 | |
Kirchhoff's modulus |
80 | 5 | |
Poisson's ratio |
0.3 | 0.3 | |
Mass density |
7850 | 64 | |
Linear expansion coefficient a, 1/K | 1.2×10−5 | a2, 1/K | 7×10−5 |
Loading parameters | |||
Rate of thermal loading growth |
200 (20), 800 (20) | ||
Rate of mechanical loading growth |
931 (20) | ||
Constant temperature difference |
800 |
Compressive and Tensile Strength of Nano-clay Stabilised Soil Subjected to Repeated Freeze–Thaw Cycles Vibration monitoring of structures in the light of the Polish and international requirements Stress–dilatancy behaviour of remoulded Fujinomori clay An elastoplastic constitutive model for assessing ground settlements induced by deep excavations