Small-Deflection Plate Bending Theory

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brium. Hence, in this case, the total potential energy of a given system has a minimum. From the uniqueness theorem [6,7], the problem of the theory of elasticity, based on assumptions of small displacements and deformations denes only one equilibrium conguration, and this conguration of equilibrium is stable. Thus, if the small-deection theory of an elastic body is being studied, then the potential energy is a minimum in an equilibrium state. So, the principle of minimum potential energy, proposed by Lagrange, can be formulated, as follows:
Among all admissible congurations of an elastic body, the actual conguration (that satises static equilibrium conditions) makes the total potential energy, , stationary with respect to all small admissible virtual displacements. For stable equilibrium, is a minimum.

Notice that the above principle applies to a conservative system only. It can be shown that the governing differential equation (2.24) and the boundary conditions (2.48) can be deduced from Lagranges variational principle (2.64) [3,812]. However, the key importance of the variational principles discussed above is that they can be used to obtain approximate solutions of complicated problems of solid mechanics, in particular, plate-shell bending problems. These are obtained while avoiding mathematical difculties associated with integration of differential equations in partial derivatives. The corresponding methods, called variational methods and based on the above-mentioned principles, are discussed further in Chapter 6. More complete information on the variational principles and their application in mechanics is available in the literature [812]. PROBLEMS
2.1 Verify the result given by Eq. (2.18). 2.2 Derive the governing differential equation for deections of a plate subjected to a distributed moment load mx x; y and my x; y applied to the middle surface. 2.3 Show that at the corner of a polygonal simply supported plate, Mxy 0 unless the corner is 90 . 2.4 If a lateral deection w is a known function of x and y, what are the maximum slope @w=@n and the direction of axis n with respect to the x axis in terms of @w=@x and @w=@y? 2.5 Show that the sum of bending curvatures in any two mutually perpendicular directions, n and t, at any point of the middle surface, is a constant, i.e., x y n t const: 2.6 Verify the expression given by Eq. (2.61). 2.7 Derive the expressions for the boundary quantities Mn ; Mnt ; and Vn in terms of the deection w at a regular (smooth) point of the curvilinear contour of the plate using: (a) the local coordinates n and t where the coordinate n coincides with the direction of the outward normal and t with the tangent direction to the boundary; (b) the intrinsic coordinates n and s, where s, is the arc length over the boundary. Hint: use the following relations for part (b) @n 1 @t 1 t; n @s  @s  where n and t are the unit vectors of the intrinsic coordinate system directed along the outward normal and tangent to the boundary, respectively.