Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 June 2016
An exact solution for the symmetrical buckling under uniform radial thrust is obtained for a thin circular plate having a particular type of thickness function for the cases in which the edge of the plate is either clamped or simply-supported. In both cases it is found that the critical thrust necessary to produce buckling can be increased from its value for the uniform circular plate of the same material and volume by concentrating material in the central region of the plate. For the clamped plate the increase is about 18 per cent and for the simply-supported plate about 29 per cent.