Multiple equilibrium states in the analysis of viscoelastic nonlinear circular plates

The stability of geometrically nonlinear viscoelastic circular plates, subjected to static radial forces and bending moments, both uniformly distributed at the supported edges, is investigated by means of the "deformation map". Within this procedure, the boundary value problem is transformed into an initial conditions one (Cauchy's problem). It is shown that the plate's behavior is chaotic-like (unpredictable), in the sense that various equilibria are possible for a certain given set of loads. However, it is shown that the viscoelasticity reduces the number of the possible equilibrium states, and thus stabilizes the system.