Linearized Least‐Squares Technique for Evaluating Plate‐Buckling Loads

Various methods exist for estimating the experimental buckling load of a rectangular plate in edge compression from the recorded load‐lateral deflection data. Since these methods are based on nonlinear and/or graphical analysis, applications in most instances either rely heavily upon the individual judgment of the experimentalist or require elaborate numerical solution techniques. This paper presents a new method for determining a plate's critical load by a least‐squares curve fit to a linearized form of the governing load‐deflection equations. The linearity is achieved by a change of parameters and results in a technique that is shown to be both impartial and computationally straightforward, while giving excellent agreement with the nonlinear approaches. It is essential, however, that a reasonably representative sampling of data points, encompassing both the prebuckling and postbuckling ranges, be included in the computations. It is concluded that the new method can provide an attractive alternative to the more involved nonlinear techniques.