An experimental method for measuring the buckling shapes of thin-walled structures

If plates are loaded alternately from both sides beyond their yield limit, permanent inelastic deformations can occur. Furthermore, pressure loadings rectangular to the deflections of inelastically deformed plates can cause buckling. In order to predict the deformations during these loading cycles, it is important to know the kind of snap-through. It can be symmetric or unsymmetric depending on the loading velocity. In the present study, the deformations and the buckling behaviour of metal plates, which are loaded by shock waves from both sides are investigated experimentally and numerically. The aim is to measure the buckling shapes and to predict the deflections in simulations. For comparison the snap-through of quasi-statically loaded plates are measured, too.