Asymptotic formulation of the nonlinear bifurcation scenarios in thermomechanically coupled plates

The nonlinear dynamics of composite plates with thermomechanical coupling is analytically addressed in order to describe the main bifurcation phenomena triggering the involved pre- and post-buckling response scenario. The static buckling occurrence and two resonance conditions around the unbuckled and buckled equilibria are investigated by means of the asymptotic multiple scale method, together with the double-zero bifurcation marking the occurrence of dynamical buckling. The resulting modulation equations and the steady-state mechanical and thermal responses are determined and compared with the numerical outcomes in order to verify the adequacy and effectiveness of the refined scalings adopted in the multiple scale analyses to describe the various bifurcation scenarios.