Abstract
In present study, a novel refined hyperbolic shear deformation theory is proposed for the buckling analysis of thick isotropic plates. The new displacement field is constructed with only two unknowns, as against three or more in other higher order shear deformation theories. However, the hyperbolic sine function is assigned according to the shearing stress distribution across the plate thickness, and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using any shear correction factors. The equations of motion associated with the present theory are obtained using the principle of virtual work. The analytical solution of the buckling of simply supported plates subjected to uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions was obtained using the Navier method. The critical buckling load results for thick isotropic square plates are compared with various available results in the literature given by other theories. From the present analysis, it can be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and efficient in predicting the buckling response of isotropic plates.