Chapter 5 Approximate Methods of Analysis of Plates

1. Validity of Classical Plate Theory

As in the case of the classical beam theory, there are obvious discrepancies in the classical theory
of plates that has been presented with regard to transforming a three-dimensional object into two-
dimensional entity. Most notably, we have employed a plane stress assumption in which
0
zz xz yz

. From equilibrium considerations of an isolated plate free-body, we expressed
the vertical flexural shear stresses as functions of vertical bending shearing forces,
and
x y
Q Q
. It
is, therefore useful to assure that our approach will yield meaningful results despite some
obvious discrepancies.
Recall an equilibrium equation of a 3D element given in terms of stresses
0
x
xy
xx xz
y z

+ +

(2-12a)
where
3 3
,
/ 12 / 12
xy
x
xx xy
M z
M z
h h

Hence,
3 3
0
/ 12 / 12
xy
x xz
M
M z z
h x h y z

+ +

3 3
/ 12 / 12
xy
xz x
x
M
M z z
Q
z h x y h

_
+


,
Now integrating with respect to z, gives
( )
2
3
/ 2
,
/ 12
xz x
z
Q f x y
h
+
Know
0
xz

at / 2 z h t , which leads
1
2
3
/ 8
0
/ 12
x
h
Q f
h
+
3
2
x
f hQ
Therefore,
2
2
3
1 4
2
x
xz
Q z
h h

_


,
Similarly,
2
2
3
1 4
2
y
yz
Q
z
h h

_


,
From Eqs. (2-8) and (2-12c), we have
2 2
2 2
3 3
1 4 1 4
2 2
xy y
xz x zz
Q
Q z q z
z x y h h x y h h

_ _ _
+


, , ,
Integrating with respect to z, we have
( )
3
2
3 4
,
2 3
zz
q z
z g x y
h h

_
+

,
The boundary conditions for
zz

are
(1) at / 2 and (2) 0 at / 2
zz zz
q z h z h
From condition (1), we have
( )
3
2
3 4
,
2 2 24
q h h
q g x y
h h
_
+ +

,
( )
1
,
2
g x y q
Hence,
3
3
1 3 2
2 2
zz
z z
q
h h

_
+

,
2
We thus obtained a set of stresses
, , and
xz yz zz

from rigorous equilibrium considerations
using results from a simplified theory that neglected these very stresses. If it turns out that the
above stresses which are assumed to be zero in the simplified theory are indeed small, we have
inner consistency of our theory. In order to accomplish this, we shall make an order-of-
magnitude study (adapted from Shames and Dym, Energy and Finite Element Methods in
Structural Mechanics, Hemisphere, 1985) of all six stresses for comparison.
From Fig. 5-1 showing inner portion of the plate, it becomes obvious
Fig. 5-1
which implies that the order of magnitude of the total force is equal to the order of magnitude of
the average applied load intensity, q, times the order of magnitude of the area of the inner
portion. If we denote an average vertical shearing force around the perimeter of the inner
portion, Q
v
, we may write the following order-of-magnitude equation:
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2

v v
O Q O L O q O L O Q O q O L O qL
Next, consider an order-of-magnitude study of moment acting on the inner portion shown in the
sketch.
Equating moments about an axis C-C going through the line of action of the resultant of the force
distribution q, gives
3
Fig. 5-2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 0
v v vs
O Q O L O L O M O L O M O L + +
where M
v
is vertical bending moment and M
vs
is in-plane twisting moment. As the vertical
moments are proportional to qL
2
, we have
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2
and
v vs
O M O qL O M O qL
Since stresses are computed from the moment divided by the section modulus of unit width as
2
/ 6
x
xx
M
h

Hence,
( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2
2 2 2
, , and
xx yy xy
qL qL qL
O O O O O O
h h h

_ _ _


, , ,
Recall the vertical stresses are computed from the vertical shearing force, Q
v
, divided by the area
of unit width. Hence,
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
1 1
= and
xz yz
L L
O O qL O O q O O qL O O q
h h h h

_ _ _ _


, , , ,
Recall also that
( ) ( )
zz
O O q
We can now make comparisons.
4
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2
2
/ and /
xz xy zz xx
h h
O O O O O O
L L

_
_


,
,
which implies that the vertical shear stresses are smaller by an order of magnitude h/L. Likewise
the transverse normal stress,
zz

, is smaller by an order of magnitude

2 2
/ h L . Thus for a very
thin plate where L/h >>10 we have inner consistency and the classical theory may be expected to
give good results.
(b) Strain Energy of Plate bending
Strain energy per unit volume of the stressed body is
/ 2
/ 2
1
2
h
ij ij
h
U dzdxdy

/ 2
/2
1
( )
2
h
xx xx yy yy zz zz xy xy xz xz yz yz
h
dzdxdy

+ + + + +

(5-1)
In the case of a thin plate, we have
0 (plane stress)
zz xz yz

Recalling and substituting the following stress strain relationship into Eq. (5-1), gives
( )
( )
( )
1
1
2 1
xx xx yy
yy yy xx
xy xy
E
E
E

( )
( )
( )
2
2
1
1
2 1
xx xx yy
yy yy xx
xy xy
E
E
E

+
;

( )
/ 2
2 2 2
/ 2
1
2 2 1
2
h
xx yy xx yy xy
h
U dzdxdy
E

1 + + +
]
Recall
( ) , , ,
w w
w w x y u z v z
x y



5
2 2 2
2 2
, ,
xx yy xy
u w w w v u w
z z z
x x y x x y x y


+

( )
2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
, ,
1 1 1
xx yy xy
Ez w w Ez w w Ez w
x y y x x y


_ _ _
+ +

+
, , ,
Substituting these relationships into the strain energy expression, yields
( ) ( ) ( )
2
2
, , 2 1 , , ,
2
xx yy xy xx yy
D
U w w w w w dxdy
1
+ +
1
]

(5-2)
where
( )
3
2
12 1
Eh
D

plate flexural rigidity per unit width (k-in

2
/in)
The loss of potential energy of applied loads is
( ) , V p x y wdxdy

(5-3)
U V + (5-4)
The problem of the bending of plates reduces in each particular case to that of finding a function,
w, that satisfies the given boundary conditions and makes the functional,
p
Eq. (5-4), a
minimum.
(c) Ritz Method
An energy method developed by Walter Ritz (1908) applies the principle of minimum potential
energy. According to this theory, of all displacements that satisfy the boundary conditions (at
least the GBC), those making the total potential energy functional of the structure, Eq. (5-4) a
minimum are the displacement sought pertinent to the stable equilibrium. Let
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
1 1 2 2
1
, , , . . . , ,
n
n n i i
i
w x y c f x y c f x y c f x y c f x y

+ + +

(5-5)
6
where ( ) ,
i
f x y
are continuous functions that satisfy individually at least the GBCs and are
capable of representing the deflected shape of the structure. The unknown coefficients, c
1,
. . . ,
c
n
are determined from
1 2
0, 0, . . . . , 0
n
c c c



(5-6)
Eq. (5-6) gives n simultaneous equations for c
1
, . . ., c
n
. c
1
, . . ., c
n
are called the natural
coordinates
.
The accuracy of the Ritz method relies primarily on the good selection of the trial
displacement function, Eq. (5-5)
Example #1
Hydrostatically Loaded Rectangular Plate
Assume the Navier solution as the trial function.
( ) , sin sin
mn
m x n y
w x y a
a b

2
2
2
2
, sin sin
xx mn
w m m x n y
w a
x a a b

2
2
2
2
, sin sin
yy mn
w n m x n y
w a
y b a b

2
2
, cos cos
xy mn
w mn m x n y
w a
x y ab a b

_



,

Substituting these partial derivatives into Eq. (5-2), gives

( ) ( ) ( )
2
2
0 0
, , 2 1 , , ,
2
a b
xx yy xy xx yy
D
U w w w w w dxdy
1
+ +
1
]

Let
7
sin , sin , cos , and cos
m n m n
m x n y m x n y
s s c c
a b a b


( )
2
2 2
2
4
1
0 0 0 0
, ,
a b a b
xx yy mn m n mn m n
m n
U w w dxdy a s s a s s dxdy
a b

1
_ _
+ +
1

, ,
1
]


2
2 2
4
2 2
0 0
a b
mn m n
m n
a s s dxdy
a b

1 _
+
1
, ]

2
2 2
2 2 2
2 2
4
0 0 2 2 2 2
' ' ' ' 2 2 2 2
' '
mn m n
a b
mn m n m n m n
m n
a s s
a b
dxdy
m n m n
a a s s s s
a b a b

1
_
+ 1

1 ,

1
_ _
1
+ + +

1
, , ]

The second term in the square bracket is for m

m and n

n and vanishes. Hence,

2 2
2 2 4 2 2
4 2 2 2 2
1 2 2 2 2
0 0
4
a b
mn m n mn
m n ab m n
U a s s dxdy a
a b a b

_ _
+ +

, ,


2 2
4
2 4 2 2 2 2
,
4
xy mn m n mn
mn ab mn
w dxdy a c c dxdy a
ab ab

1
_ _

1

, ,
1
]


2 2
4
4 2 2 2 2
, ,
4
xx yy mn m n mn
mn ab mn
w w dxdy a s s dxdy a
ab ab

_ _


, ,

Hence,
( )
2
2
, , , 0
xy xx yy
U w w w dxdy

( )
2
4 2 2
2
1 2 2 2
2 8
mn
D abD m n
U U U a
a b
_
+ +

,

(5-7)
The loss of potential energy of the applied load is then
( ) ( ) , , V f x y w x y dA 1
]
(5-8)
where
8
( ) ( )
0
, and , sin sin
mn
q m x n y
f x y x w x y a
a a b

2
0 0
0 0 0
0
a b b
mn
mn m n m m n
n
a
q x q a a ax
V a s s dxdy s c s dy
a a m m
1
_

1

,
1
]


( ) ( )
1 1
2 2
0 0
0
1 2 1 2
cos
m m
b
mn mn
n
m n m n
b a a q a q a b n y
s dy
o a m a m n b

+ +

( ) ( )
1 1
2
0 0
2
1,2, 1,3,
1 2 1 4 2 1
m m
mn mn
m n m n
a q a q a ab b
a m n m n
+ +




The total energy functional is minimized with respect to the arbitrarily chosen natural
coordinates
( )
2 1
4 2 2
2 0
2 2 2
1 4
8
m
mn
mn
q a ab abD m n
U V a
a b mn

+
_
+ +

,

0 gives specific values of and .
mn mn mn
U V
m n
a a a

+

2
4 2 2
2 2
4
mn
mn
U abD m n
a
a a b
_
+

and
( )
1
0
2
1 4
m
mn
q ab V
a mn
+

2
4 2 2
2 2
4
mn
abD m n
a
a b
_
+

,

( )
1
0
2
1 4
0
m
q ab
mn
+

Hence,
9
( )
1
0
2 6
2 2
2 2
1 16
m
mn
q
a
D
m n
mn
a b

_
+

,

and
( )
( )
1
0
2 6
2 2
1,2, 1,3,
2 2
1 16
, sin sin
m
m n
q m x n y
w x y
D a b
m n
mn
a b

_
+

,

For a square plate (a=b),
( )
( )
( )
1
4
0
2 6
2 2
1,2, 1,3,
1 16
, sin sin
m
m n
q a m x n y
w x y
D a b
mn m n

+

4 4
0 0
/ 2, 1 6
16 1
0.00416
4
x y a m n
q a q a
w
D D

checks with Navier solution
The accuracy of the Ritz method relies primarily on the good selection of the trial function, Eq.
(5-5). A double trigonometric series is one of the best trial functions to be used. When the trial
function satisfies NBCs as well as GBCs, the trial function renders an extremely fast
converging solution. Recall the suggested form of trigonometric functions representing various
combinations of edge conditions.
Example #2
A simply supported square plate subjected to a triangular prism as shown in Fig. 5-3 is
examined.
10
Fig. 5-3
Assume ( )
x
, sin sin
a
mn
m n
m n y
w x y w
a

. As the load and the deflection shape are

symmetrical with respect to the centerline axes of the plate, the summation of sine series is
executed on odd (1,3,5, ) indexes.
( )
( )
0
0
0
2
, for 0
2
2
, 2 for
2
q x a
q x y x
a
q x a
q x y q x a
a

<
Potential energy of applied load, Eq. (5-8)
( ) ( )
/ 2
0
0 0
2
, , 2 sin sin
a a
mn
A
q x m x m y
V q x y w x y dA w dxdy
a a a




/ 2 / 2
0
0 0 0 0
4
sin sin , let sin sin
a a a a
mn
m n
q m x n y m x n y
w x dx dy I x dx dy
a a a a a

( )
( )
2 2
1
2
3
1
2
2 3
/ 2
2
sin cos cos 1
0 0
2
1
m
m
a a
a m x ax m x a n y a a
I
m a m a n a m n
a
m n

1 1
_ 1 _ _

1 1

1
, ] , ,
1 1
] ]

2
0
3 2
1,3, 1,3,
8 1
sin
2
mn
m n
q a m
V w
m n

The strain energy (for the square plate), U, Eq. (5-7), is
11
( )
2
4 2 2 2 4
2
2 2 2 2
2 2 2
8 8
mn mn
m n
a D m n D
U w m n w
a a a
_
+ +

,

0
mn mn mn
U V
w w w

+

gives specific values of
mn
w
.
( )
4 2
2
2 2 0
2 3 2
8 1
sin 0
4 2
mn
D w q a m
m n
a m n

+
Hence,
( )
4
0
2
7 2 2 2
32
sin
2
mn
q a m
w
Dm n m n

+
and
( )
( )
4
0
2 7
2 2
1,3, 1,3,
32 1
, sin sin sin
2 2 2
m n
q a m m x n y
w x y
D
m n

+

4
0
max / 2, 1
0.00265
x y a m n
q a
w
D


vs.
4
0
max classical
0.00263
q a
w
D
0.76% difference
Example #3
A rectangular plate with a=1.5b is fixed at all four edges as shown in Fig. 5-4. Compute the
maximum deflection at the center of the plate subjected to a uniformly distributed load of
0
q
.
12
Fig. 5-4
Assume for simplicity
( ) ( ) ( ) , with 1
mn
m n
w x y w f x g y m n

.
( )
11
, 1 cos 1 cos
x y
w x y w
a b
_ _
+ +

, ,
(note the coordinate translation)
The expression in the parenthesis of the second term in Eq. (5-2) is called the Gaussian curvature
and the first variation of the integral of the Gauss curvature vanishes if simply w=0 on the
boundary. Hence, the second term in Eq. (5-2) is not evaluated in the expression of the strain
energy.
( ) ( ) ( )
2
2
, , 2 1 , , ,
2
xx yy xy xx yy
D
U w w w w w dxdy
1
+ +
1
]

(5-2)
( )
4 2
2
2 11
1 2 1 3 3
3 3 2
2 2
a b
a b
D w D b a
U U U U w dxdy
a b ab

_
+ + +

,

Since
11
sin 1 cos
w x y
w
x a a b
_ _
+

, ,
and
2 2
11 2 2
cos 1 cos
w x y
w
x a a b
_ _
+

,
,
y
a a
b
b
0
q
x
13
11
sin 1 cos
w y x
w
y b b a
_ _
+

, ,
and
2 2
11 2 2
cos 1 cos
w y x
w
y b b a
_ _
+

,
,
( )
2
2
2
2
2
2
11
2
cos 1 cos
, ,
cos 1 cos
a b a b
xx yy
a b a b
x y
a a b
dxdy
w w dxdy
w
y x
b b a




1 _
_
+
1
, _
,
1
+

1
_
, _
1
+ +

1 ,
, ]

2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2
2 2
11
2 2
cos 1 cos cos 1 cos
2 cos 1 cos cos 1 cos
a b
a b
x y y x
a a b b b a dxdy
w
x y y x
a a b b b a




1
_ _
_ _
+ + + 1

_
, , 1 , ,

1
_ _ ,
_ _
1
+ + +

1
, ,
, , ]

I I I
w
-

+ +

=

1 2 3
2
11
Then
2
2 2 4
2
1 2
2
cos 1 cos 1 cos sin
2 4
a b b
a b b
a
x y y x a x
I dxdy dy
a a a b b a a

1
_
_ _ _ _
+ + +
1

, , , ,
1 ,
]

2
4 4
2
3 3
1 cos 1 2cos cos
b b
b b
y y y
dy dy
a b a b b


_ _
+ + +

, ,

( )
4 4 4
3 3 3
2 2 3
sin sin 2 0 0
2 4
b
b y y b y b
y b b
b a b b a a


_
+ + + + + +

,
Likewise,
4
2 3
3a
I
b

2 2
2 2
4
2 2
cos 1 cos cos 1 cos
cos 1 cos cos 1 cos
x y y x
a a b b b a
x x y y
a b a a b b


_ _
_ _
+ +

, ,
, ,
1 _ _
+ +
1
, , ]
14
4
3
2 2
cos 1 cos cos 1 cos
2
b a
b a
I y y x x
dy dx
a b b b a a


_ _
+ +

, ,

2
2
cos 1 cos cos cos sin sin
2 4
a a
a a
a
x x x x a x x a x
dx dx a
a a a a a a a



_ _ _
+ + + +

, , ,

Likewise,
2
2
cos 1 cos cos cos sin sin
2 4
b b
b b
b
y y y y b y y b y
dy dy b
b b b b b b b



_ _ _
+ + + +

, , ,

4
3
2
I
ab

4 2
11
3 3
3 3 2
2
D w b a
U
a b ab
_
+ +

,
( )
0 0 11
, 1 cos 1 cos
a b a b
a b a b
x y
V q w x y dxdy q w dxdy
a b


_ _
+ +

, ,


0 11
1 cos sin
b
b
a
y a x
q w dy x
a b a

_ _
+ +

, ,

0 11
4abq w
U V +
4
11 0 3 3
11 11 11
3 3 2
4 0
U V b a
D w abq
w w w a b ab

_
+ + +


,
4
0 0
11 4 2 4 4
3 3
4 4 1 1
3 3 2
3 3 2
abq q a
w
b a D D
a a
a b ab
b b


_
_ _
+ +
+ +

,
, ,
For a/b=1.0
4 4 4 2
0 0 0
max 0 4
4 1
0.02053 . 0.02016
3 3 2
x y
q a q a q a
w vs
D D D


+ +
1

1.6% difference
1
Table 35 (0.00126qoa
4
/D), Timoshenko and Woinowsky-Krieger (1950). Since the dimension is twice the one
used in Table 35, adjustment is needed; 0.00126x16=0.02016.
15
Example #4
A simply supported rectangular plate with a=1.5b as shown in Fig. 5-5 is subjected to a
uniformly distributed load of
0
q
. Compute the deflection at the center.
Fig. 5-5
Assume a deflection function
( ) ( ) ( )
4 3 4 3
11
, 2 2
x x x y y y
w x y f x g y w
a a a b b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]
which satisfies GBCs and NBCs. Hence, it is expected to converge fast.
3 2 4 3
11
4 6 1 2
w w x x y y y
x a a a b b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]

2 4 3
2
11
2 2
12 12 2
w w x x y y y
x a a a b b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]
4 3 3 2
11
2 4 6 1
w w x x x y y
y b a a a b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]
4 3 2
2
11
2 2
2 12 12
w w x x x y y
y b a a a b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]
x
a
b
0
q
y
16
3 2 3 2
2
11
4 6 1 4 6 1
w w x x y y
x y ab a a b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1


, , , ,
1 1
] ]
( ) ( )
2 2
2
0 0 0 0
, ,
2 2
a b a b
xx yy
D D
U w dxdy w w dxdy +

2
2 4 3
2
2
11
4 3 2 0 0
2
1
2
72
1
2
a b
x x y y y
a a a b b b
Dw dxdy
x x x y y
b a a a b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ 1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]

' ;
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]

2 2
2 4 3
4
2 2
4 3 2
4
2
11
2 4 3
2 2
1
2
1
2
72
2
2
x x y y y
a a a b b b
x x x y y
b a a a b b
Dw
x x y y y
a b a a b b b
x
a
1 1
_ _ _ _
+
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]

1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]

0 0
4 3 2
2
a b
dxdy
x x y y
a a b b







' ;




1 1
_ _ _ _
+
1 1


, , , ,
1 1
] ]

( )
2
11 1 2 3
72Dw I I I + +
17
2 2
2 4 3
4
1
0 0
2
4 3 4 2 3
0 0
2
2 2
a b
b a
x x y y y
a I dxdy
a a b b b
y y y x x x
dy dx
b b b a a a
1 1
_ _ _ _
+
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]
1 1
_ _ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , , ,
1 1
] ]


2 2
4 3 4 3
0 0
= 2 2
5 3 2 30
b b
y y y a a a a y y y
dy dy
b b b b b b
1 1
_ _ _ _ _
+ + +
1 1

, , , , ,
1 1
] ]

2
4 3 8 2 6 5 7 4
0 0
2 4 2 4 4
30 30
b b
a y y y a y y y y y y
dy dy
b b b b b b b b b
1 1
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
+ + + +
1 1

, , , , , , , ,
1 1
] ]

4 4 70 210 360 210 315 504 31
30 9 3 7 3 2 5 30 630 30 630
a b b b b b b ab ab + + + _ _
+ + +

, ,
1 3
31
18900
b
I
a

Likewise
2 3
31
18900
a
I
b

From Maple

2 4 3 4 3 2
3 2 2
0
1
2 2 2
a
x x y y y x x x y y
I dxdy
a b a a b b b a a a b b
1 1 1 1
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
+ +
1 1 1 1

, , , , , , , ,
1 1 1 1
] ] ] ]

4 3 2 2 4 3
2 2
0 0
2
2 2
b a
y y y y y x x x x x
dy dx
a b b b b b b a a a a a
1 1 1 1
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
+ +
1 1 1 1

, , , , , , , ,
1 1 1 1
] ] ] ]

2 2
2 17 17 289
420 420 88200
b a
a b ab
_ _


, ,
2 2
11 11 3 3 3 3
31 31 289 62 62 289
72
18900 18900 88200 525 525 1225
b a b a
U Dw Dw
a b ab a b ab
_ _
+ + + +

, ,
18
4 3 4 3
0 11 0 11
0 0
2 2
25
a b
x x x y y y ab
V q w dxdy q w
a a a b b b
1 1
_ _ _ _
+ +
1 1

, , , ,
1 1
] ]

2
11 0 11 3 3
62 62 289
/ 25
525 525 1225
b a
U V Dw q abw
a b ab

_
+ + +

,
11 0 3 3
11 11 11
62 62 289
2 / 25 0
525 525 1225
U V b a
Dw q ab
w w w a b ab
_
+ + +


,
( ) ( )
0 0
11
3 3 3 3
62 62 289 124 124 578
2 25
525 525 1225 21 21 49
q ab q ab
w
b a b a
D D
a b ab a b ab

_ _
+ + + +

, ,
( )
4 4
0 0
4 4 2 2 4 4 2 2
3 3
1029
6076 6076 12138 6076 12138
1029
q ab q a b
b a a b a b a b D
D
a b

_ 1 + + + +
]

,
For a=b
4 4
0 0
max / 2, / 2
1029 1 1 1 1 1 1
0.004137
12152 12138 16 4 2 16 4 2
x a y b
q a q a
w
D D

_ _
+ +

+
, ,
Comparing the coefficient of the classical solution (Lvy solution) 0,00406, this is 1.9% higher.
There are other classical approximate methods such as Galerkin and Kantorovich and numerical
methods such as finite difference and finite element. Other than finite element method, these
approximate methods are now historical interest as they do not necessarily contribute to a better
understanding of the subject matter or provide computational efficiency.
Suggested form of trig series to be used in approximate solutions
1. fixed - free
1 cos
2
x
y a
_


,
l
,
sin
2 2
x
y a
_


,
l l
,
2
cos
2 2
x
y a

1
_

1

,
1
]
l l
,
3
sin
2 2
x
y a

1
_

1

,
1
]
l l
19
0 0
0 and 0
x x
y y


meet GBC
0 and 0
x x
y y


l l
one-half of NBC violated may be acceptable
2. simple - simple
sin
x
y a

l
,
2
cos , sin
x x
y a y a
_ _


, ,
l l l l
0
0 and 0
x x
y y


l
meet GBC
0
0 and 0
x x
y y


l
meet NBC fast converging solution
3. fixed - fixed
2 2 2
1 cos , sin
x x
y a y a
_ _


, ,
l l l
0 x=0
0 and y 0
x
y


meet GBC at x=0
0 and 0
x x
y y


l l
meet GBC at x=l fast converging solution
4. fixed - simple
2
2 2 2 2 2
1 cos , sin , cos
x x x
y a y a y a

1
_ _ _

1

, , ,
1
]
l l l l l
0
0 and 0
x x
y y


l
meet GBC
0
0 and 0
x x
y y


l
meet all GBC but one NBC violated may be acceptable
20
5. simple - free
2 3
sin , cos , sin , cos
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
x x x x
y a y a y a y a

1 1
_ _

1 1

, ,
1 1
] ]
l l l l l l l
0 x=0
0 and y 0
x
y


meet one GBC and one NBC
0 and 0
x x
y y


l l
meet one NBC but violated one NBC may be acceptable
Assumed displacement functions
1. must satisfy the GBC - if violated, divergence may occur.
2. satisfy the NBC as well as GBC - an extremely fast converging solution is assured.
3. satisfy the GBC but violate the NBC - may be acceptable but convergence may be slow.
HW#8
A rectangular plate of dimension a and b is clamped on all four edges. The plate is subjected to
a uniformly distributed load of
0
q
. Using the deflection equation of both ends clamped beam for
the assumed plate deflection equation, ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
11
, w x y f x g y w x x a y y b
1 1

] ]
,
develop the plate deflection equation. If a=b, find the maximum deflection at the center of the
plate and compare with other classical solution.
21