This monograph deals with buckling and postbuckling behavior of thin plates and thin-walled structures with flat wall subjected to static and dynamic load. The investigations are carried out in elastic range. The basic assumption here is the thin plate theory. This method is used to determination the buckling load and postbuckling analysis of thin-walled structures subjected to static and dynamic load. The book introduces two methods for static and dynamic buckling investigation which allow for a wider understanding of the phenomenon. Two different methods also can allow uncoupling of the phenomena occurring at the same time and attempt to estimate their impact on the final result. A general mathematical model, adopted in proposed analytical-numerical method, enables the consideration of all types of stability loss i.e.local, global and interactive forms of buckling. The applied numerical-numerical method includes adjacent of walls, shear-lag phenomenon and a deplanation of cross-sections.

Since the early 1960s, coupled instabilities — also called compound buckling, simultaneous buckling or interactive buckling — have been a topic that was studied by many researchers. However, despite some excellent theoretical works in this field, the relevant subject is not yet satisfactorily considered in modern design codes for metal structures. To fill up this gap and to improve the current situation, a series of International Conferences 'Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures' was launched in 1992 with the main aim of encouraging an exchange of views between researchers and engineers on the various aspects of coupled instabilities. The success of the first conference, held at Timisoara (Romania) in 1992, and organized by Professors D Dubina & V Gioncu (Politechnica University of Timisoara) and J Rondal (Univ. of Liège), has encouraged the organization of a second conference, to be held in Liège (Belgium) during September 5-7, 1996. A third conference is still forecast for the year 2000.

This volume contains the papers presented at the Third International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, Cracow, Poland on June 5-7, 2001. There has been a substantial growth in knowledge in the field of Thin-Walled Structures over the past few decades. Lightweight structures are in widespread use in the Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical, Automobile, Chemical and Offshore Engineering fields. The development of new processes, new methods of connections, new materials has gone hand-in-hand with the evolution of advanced analytical methods suitable for dealing with the increasing complexity of the design work involved in ensuring safety and confidence in the finished products.Of particular importance with regard to the analytical process is the growth in use of the finite element method. This method, about 40 years ago, was confined to rather specialist use, mainly in the aeronautical field, because of its requirements for substantial calculation capacity. The development over recent years of extremely powerful microcomputers has ensured that the application of the finite element method is now possible for problems in all fields of engineering, and a variety of finite element packages have been developed to enhance the ease of use and the availability of the method in the engineering design process.

The work summarizes theoretical and experimental investigations of real loading conditions of thin-walled plated and shell structures under loads concentrated on parts of their surface. There are presented more accurate and improved models of strain or stress distribution under patch loads considering geometrical and material nonlinearity in connection with stability problems and fatigue damage of studied structural types. The results of these investigations are of particular importance in the design and safety verification of many engineering structures, e.g. plate girders subjected to partial edge loading, closures of fuel tanks, footings and sadles of pressure vessels, reservoirs and pipelines.