Applied Mathematics and Mechanics

(English Edition, Vol,8, No.4, Apr. 1987)

Published by SUT,
Shanghai, China

A F R E E R E C T A N G U L A R P L A T E ON T H E T W O - P A R A M E T E R
ELASTIC FOUNDATION
Sheng Yao(t4=

~)

HuangYih( ~

~)

(Xi'an Institute of Metallurgy" and Construction Engineering. Xi 'an)

(Received Mar. 9,1986)

Abstract
This paper provides a rigorous solution of a free rectangular plate on the V.Z. Vlazov
two-parameter elastic foundation by the method of superposition [11.In this paper we derive
basic solutions under the various boundary conditions. To superpose the.re basic solutions
the most generally rigorous solution of a free rectangular plate on the two-parameter elastic
foundation can be obtained. The solution strictly satisfies the diJferential equation of a plate
on the two-parameter elastic model foundation, the boundary conditions of the free edges
and the free corner conditions. Some numerical examples are presented The calculated
results show that when the plane dimension of plate is given and Ihe rc,t:~ 6etween the layer
depth and the plate thick is equal to 15, the two-parameter elastic model is near the
Winkler's. It shows that the Winklermodel can be applied to the thinner layer.

I. Introduction
The elastic analysis of the plate on the elastic foundation belongs to interaction of two medium.
The analysis of the plate on the Winklermodel foundation is thought of as a difficult problem all
along. The analysis of the free rectangular plate on the elastic foundation is a more difficult
boundary value problem. The rigorous solutions have been obtained in recent yearsJ 21.131.It is well
known that theWinklerelastic model is the simplest presentation of the continual elastic foundation.
He assumed that the elastic foundation consists of a system of compact arrangement and mutually
independent linear springs. For this foundation model there is a same displacement within the
loaded area, in spite of rigid punch pressure or uniform force, at the same time the surface
displacement of foundation occurs only inside the loaded area and outside the region the
displacement is zero. The intrinsic feature of this foundation model is not conformable to the actual
behaviour of the foundation. The actual case of deformation of foundation is that the displacement
occurs not only in the loaded area but also in the outside this region. So the practice has shown that
Winkler model is suited to the thin layer of foundation and does not reflect the actual deformation of
thicker layer. In oi'd~r to reflect the ~/ctual deformation of the loaded foundation the structural
designers gradually pay attention to the two-parameter elastic foundation model. The calculation of
the plate on the two-parameter elastic foundation is of interest to many researchers.In this paper the
V.Z.Vlazovt4J two-parameter elastic foundation model is used ~:nd the general bending problem of a
free rectangular plate on the two-parameter elastic foundation is discussed. ,On the basis of the
superposition method presented by .Prof. Chang Fo-van, the general solutions of problem are
obtained and we give the detailed numerical results. The calculation shows if the plane dimension of

326

Sheng Yao and Huang Yih

plate is given and H / h ~ 15, the calculation result of two-parameter is elementally equal to that of
Winklerand that in this ratio region we can calculate the displacement and internal force and the
error is small.
II. B a s i c T h e o r y
The differenatial equation of a thin plate on the two-parameter elastic foundationt41 is:

D. v4w-- 2 t.VZw + k. w=q( x , y )

(2.1)

According to V.Z.Vlazov model, the parameter:

k=

Eo'y

a(l_~0 ) "r

t ~

E~

1 6 . y . ( l + t z o ) "~P,

Ee
~e
l--p,' It~ l--p.

E~

(2.2)

tp~-

,,.o
H is the depth of foundation; "~' is a parameter which is concerned with the foundation feature; a is
the geometrical dimension of plate; Eo, /~, are the elastic constants of foundation. D =
( E . h S ) / (12(1--;L:))is the flexural rigidity of plate, E is the elastic modulus of plate, ~ is
Poission's ratio

v~( )=o~( )/o.e+o~( )lay ~

The expressions of plate internal force are as follows:
82w \

Mr:

- D ( aZw

aiw \

\ 0v~ + # - ~ - )

M,=--D(1--/~)

OZw

axay

(9..3)
V , = -- D ~

r a2w ,

"2

a~w q

o# L-~ -,+-C ".)-~-J

8 r82w

8by

v,= ----~-~ I -~- + ( 2-.>-~- ]

aZw

R=--2D(I-. ~.~) OxOy

Fig. l

Plate on the Two-Parameter Elastic Foundation

327

The boundary conditions involved are simply supported, free and generalized simply
supported. Consider the case of a rectangular plate shown is Fig.l.AIong the edge at x = a the
various boundary conditions are:
simply supported edge:

w(a,y)=M~(a,y)=O

(2.4a)

M~(a,y)=O, Y~(a,y)=OI

(2.4b)

free:

generalized free:

Mx(a,y) = 0 , Vx(a, y) =~rx(u) - - t h e known function of y

generalized simply supported:
M~(a,y)=O, w(a,y)=ffo(y) - - t h e known function o f y
corner condition:
free comer: RI ~:~ =R*
generalized free corner: R[ x-,_--a~
II-&
where, a~ is the known numerical value and

S~

Q~=2t

R*=

l,

(Z.4c)
(2.4d)
(2.4e)

+(aw,?~
1 ( a~w..~I
9 \ - g U / - - T ~ - \ 0--~T--)JJ,..

3t
]
2 wa x-.
I,- &

w,=w(a,y)exp[-a(.~-a)]
k
2t
For the boundary condition at the edge y = b we only need to exchange y for x and a for b.
The solutions of basic differenal equation can be written in the form:

w-'wp+ ~,_,Y,~sina.x

(2.5)

where, w~ is a particular solution which is concerned with the loading. The second series is the
solution of homogeneous equation:

Dv'w-- 2tV2w+kw=O

(2.6)

So the function )',should satisfy the differential equation:

'.
+Z~a.+

.
The characteristic equation of (2.7) is:

2
1) If

(t/D) z > k / D

Using notation:

or

P>k.D

(~..7)

328

Sheng Yao and Huang Yih

t

k
k

then
Y~, = A = c h 6 . y + B,nsh6,,,y + C~,ch~,~y+ D=shs~=y
where

r
r
2) l f ( t / D ) Z - ~ k / D

or

=chI.u,
=chC.y,

=sh~,Ry

t~=kD

Using notation:

t
then

Y~ = A . e h ~ y + B ~ s h ~ y + C~yehy.y + D.yshy~y
where

4'..(y) =sh~,,~
~,.(y) =Ushv.U

Cz-(Y) = e h T . y ,

r
3) I f ( t / D ) Z < k / D
Using notation :

=uehe.~,
or t z < h . D

l~=(

t\~

,,

9r ~ - - , . + a . + ~ ,

/k

t2

2.v~=t~--

( a~+

then
~',~ = A,,,c h r = y . cosr,~y + B,~shr=y 9cosv,~y + C=sh-c=y 9si nv=y + D=c hr,~y 9si nv,~y
whcre
r

(Y) : chr,,,y, cosvmy,

Cz= ( Y ) . = s h r = y . c osv,,,y

(Y) -----sh rmy. si r.vmy,

(Y) -----chr,~y. sinv~y

In the above expression: A . Bm, C , D,, are arbitrary constants.

In tile engineering practice we often encounter the case of # < k . D
discuss this case below.

IlI.

, therefore we only

Basic S o l u t i o n A n d C o r r e s p o n d i n g F o r m u l a e

From the definition of preceding article it is seen that edges moment of the generalized simply
supported and simply supported is zero ( M = 0), but it has transverse shearing force. Superposing
the boundary conditions in a generalized simply supported on the boundary conditions in a simply
~,lpportcd the free boundary conditions of a plate on the two-parameter elastic fou,~l,alion can be

Plate on the Two-Parameter Elastic Foundation

329

satisfied so long as we make the edge vertical shearing forces and concentrated reactions at the
corners to be given value. Therefore we must develop some-solutions about generalized simply
supported and superpose them.
(1) y = 5- 0/2 are generalized simply supported, x = q- a/2 are simply supported,The deflections
of y=+ b/2 are
oo

w=

E..eosa=x

where:
mt~

By the homogeneous equation (2.6), we obtain:

-"

~.---

oo

w=

~
m-*,,,

[At.q~,,,,(y)+C~r

(3.1)

Yi E~,cosa.x

Fig. 2

where:

[a*.(1-t0+~-].th-~-b-.tg

v,.b .,. / k
2 -qD--~

t*

A'-=

iY--D ~ k

,.

t
k
ta
r..b
~,..b
a*- ' ( 1-- t0 + D - - 4 / 7 " - - D r - t h T "
tg ?,
C ~. -----

v"b'E"

k
P th'~ 1)
lab .cos
~/D.-_Dr. (
.tg'-~-+
eh z
,

V,I,.,,~=-D

5q~ {[A'..fl.+C*..2.3.4,.

+[--~*..~1.

rt;m l ~8 ~ "

+ C.~, "3,, 3"r

cosa.x
(~.2)

oo

F. [...,~---- --D

[A'. 90. + C*.. p . ] . 4,..(y) + [ - A . ~"p.

+C ~.98,,-I.G,~ (y)'~-a..sin
mu
J
2
where:
k
ft., = [ D -- ( 1--/~)" a . ] " r . - - ~

t"
D,'Vm

'D-- t2
t

p.=--(2--~)"

k
t2
D -- --D-w

330

Sheng Yao and Huang Yih

Corner reacting force:

I

Ozw

R= +2D. ( l--p)" l~l..a,~

\ OXOy /~-b/2

=-2D(I--/~)

a. {A.t[r..~,.(2b~)--v.,~,,,(2b~)]

!11- l ~$ ~

" "

m~r

(3.3)

x = -F aq2 are generalized simply supported, y = + b/2 are simply supported. The deflections
x = -F a/2 are
(2)

of

w=

~-~
flIl~8)

F..cosa..y,

a.=-~--

- -

obviously:

~=

[A.r162

~
n-113.

(3.4)

""

n-l,3?

""

(3.s)
r

ff_~ {EA~-'O.+C~-'p,]'ck,,(x)+Z--A~-.p,
+ C . 1 .0,,].r

a , . s i n n~r
9 .J

Exchanging a for h and ,11 for n in

A~, C**, r . , v., fl., 2., t., p., 0,,

obtain A*-, C*-, r . , v., ft., 2., t., p . , 0. 9 T h e n :

dpl.( x )=chv.x.eosv.x,
r
= s h r , x . sin v.x,

x ) =shr.x. eosv.x

X ) = ehr.x, sinv.x

we can

Corner reacting force:

oo

R=--Z.D.
1

(l--u)
G

y-],
a

~r,1l,

(3.6)

(3) In order to realize the four free boundary conditions we lead into uniform settlement c. By
tlmc assumption of two-parameter elastic foundation we know: reacting force of foundation is kc,
rcacting forces ofedges and corners are V , = 2 . a . t . c , V , = 2 . a . t . e ,
R = ( 3 t / 2 ) . c . Because
the plate deformation is not made by the V., Vr R in the simply supported plate we can eliminate
additional forccs which are made by uniform settlement by the method of adding the qm= - c k on

Plate on the Two-Parameter Elastic Foundation

331

the plate. Considering uniform load q2 = Q on the plate we obtain:

[ H , , , + . . . ~, 2. r

]}]

~-----c+

m-l~$1

--I--

C .1. r

""

or

(3.7)

@r

w=C+

EH . + Ai.'r
lira I I S l

x) +C'-'r

x) ] ' c o s a . ' y

--.

where:
sin mar
2

4(ck-O)

H,.=--

]l'. r n . D

~ , ~)+~-(~)+

Aa.=--H.

a.+2a..~t~

=~

C ',,= H,,,

k
tz
d,~-

+,-(-})

G- ~,'"(~"':: +cos,~f)

(~

,/D

t=

t Z

D i ( sh =-v=b

~,, ""(}1

Exchanging m for n and b for a in these expression we obtain

H . , A=_, C ~, :

lira I ~31 , -

+c: ~.~ +,.(;)}~o,o.,

V,I,.0,~=-D

[A../~=+C. a.].C=.
II

+[--X'.a=

11.

(3.8)

IimllS!

+ C . . fl. ] . r

~ )}.cosa.x

Corner reacting force:

oo

R=-2.D.(i-.)
+ C:[ ,..,,. (;)

).2

{-~.[,..+,.(~)-,,..,,,.(J]

+,..,.

(;)]}~

n~r

(3.9)

(4) A concentrated load is at the center of the simply supported plate and the coordinates are
Fig.3 or Fig.4. The displacement is:

332

Sheng Yao and H u a n g Yih

D~ /

~----~
,,.,,~, _.
V~- D v

EAt. r

+ C .~ 9r

].

COSOmX

t'.

(3.zo)
or:
P

Ix..r
$

.U~_~_K
~
~r
D~

~=-~-

"

]9

COSO:n~r

t'_

/,/2

1
b

- - - - P

tt

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

where:

3 ~

sh~5,.b + c o s z v..b
2

3__

sh'- ":'t' +cos' ,,.__bb

2

Exchanging m for n and b for a in the two expressions we obtain

V, i,. ,,--= -r'y

V,l.=a=--f',

AS,

C]

i (A~'fl~+C~.2m).eosa,~x
t~
P

.--

D2
n=l~St

""

, t1~, (A~.fl.+C,.,~.).eosa.u

}
( ((3.11)
|
?

Corner reacting force.

-v+oo,,

,.0..-N~1131

"-

(s.iz)
(5)We discuss a free rectangular plate that is on the two-parameter elastic foundation and on

Plate on the Two-Parameter Elastic Foundation

333

which there are uniform force and a concentrated load at center By the free boundary condition we
know that the adding together the above basic solutions should make the shearing force and corner
reacting forces being definite valueOpening up the second formulations of (3.2) and (3.5) as the
cosine series and superposing these we can get a set of corresponding linear equations:

I-z:

V, . . . , t = , V T

a2,'F.'eosa.y
"r~+ ( v . - - a n ) : . ( vm-a"

,,,-,,s,9e h - ~ . s i n

b
.cos_v0,
_a,,) } + .r~+(vm+a.)V
1

b
--2-(v.--an)
+ r.. sh-~

9{ ( v . + a . ) . e h - ~ . s i n y ( v . +ba . ) +

-D

=.,,~, -

r ~ , . s h _ ~ 9cosy(v,,+
b
a, )}].sin m~r
2

a.(-A~p,,,+C~O.).-~-.[

r'. + ( v , , - a ,

{.r.,.
ch.~b

)~

9 b
vmb
b
1
9 s m - ~ - ( v , s - - a , ) - (vm--a.) . s h ~
.cosy(v=--a~)}+-r2=+(v,,+a,)..

v=b
9(r..ch~sin(v.--a.,--(v.+a.).sh-~.

V, I I.bn=,~/

2t8

Dt

. ~o~

E , ~ . c o s a - x . a ~-

a,(A~.O,+Cl_.p,,)2[
tt~lt$t

bcos~(v,~+a.)}j.sin

@(Al.fl,+C

mar
2

~-. , ) = ~ / - - F --'a'-'F,,

.. ((v_a,~).ch

~.;+(v,-a,,) ~

r. a
2

--

. a
r,,a
a
9sm-~(v.--a,)+r,.sh--~--.cos~(v.--a,~)}+
r,a

9ch--~- .sin ~ ( v . + a . )
oa

-D

. r.a

+r,.sa--~.

{(v, + a,,,)

r.2 + (v~+a,=) 2'

cos-if(v.+ a~ )

}]

mr

.sin 2

1
.{,,,:ch': 2
a"'(--A~-'P"+C~"O") ~[ " "v2.+(v,,--a,)"

JOm198~

9 (ll
lrnG
"~"-V("'-a')-("'-a')'sh--~-'c~
.r,,a
. o
9r,iT..~n-y-.s,n
T(,.+a.)

"

~-'-+ ( v . + a . ) '

~r.a cosT(v.+a=)}]
- (v.+ a.).sh--ff-.
a

334

Sheng Yao and Huang Yih

.

n ~:

+(c~+c~).~.3.r

+vm.r

(0]) s m ~ - - 2 D
b

+v.r

(~-~

+~

kD_t~ -iy-(A~.,8.+C~.,~.)

~ j-~

m~:

an r A.a v.r

~
G

kD--t z

.r

(;

l
sh 2 v . a + e o s Z v . a

2
Solving these linear equations we get Era, F = ,

IV.

--Vn'~4n

} .sin

mr
2

=0

Numerical Example

As the application of this paper we give an example of a square plate. We take the elastic
module of plate E = 2 . 0 x l O 6 t / m 2, the Poisson's ratio
# =0.167, the elastic module of
foundation

E . = 4 . 0 x l 0 3 t / m 2 , the Poisson's ratio

p, =0.4,

the foundation parameter

T" = 1.55, plate wide a = lm, high h = 0 . 0 4 m , concentrated load p = 10t and uniform force Q = It.
When m and n equal 50 the calculated result is given. In general it is very .rigorous that m and n
equal 30. I n the forms the first lines are~Winkler's results a n d the second lines are Vlazov's.
Table la Displacement w

Unit: meter

o/8

0.0036

0.0028

0.0016

0.0029

0.0022

0.00!3

H = oo
30/8

o.6ooT
0.0005
. . . . . . . .

0/2

TI
i

o.oooo
0.0000

0.0028

0.0023

0.0014

0.0006

0.0022

0.0018

0.0011

0.0005

0.0016

0.0014

0.0009

0.0003

--0.0002

0.0013

0.0011

O.O00T

0.0002

-0.0002

O.O00T

0.0008

0.0003

-0.0001

-0.0005

Q.OO05

0.0005

0.0002

-0.0001

-0.0004

0.0000

0.0000

--0.0002

-0.0005

-0.0009

-0.0002

-0.0004

-O.O00T

3_0
8

0.0000

-0.0001

0.0000
--0.0001

Plate on the Two-Parameter Elastic Foundation

Table lb

335
/'/=0.6

a/8

a/4

3a/8

o/2

0.0032

0.0024

0.0014

0.0000

-0.0001

0.0027

0.0020

0.0011

0.0004

-0.0001

0.0024

0.0019

0.0012

0.0005

-0.0001

0.0020

0.0016

0.0009

0.0003

-0.0001

0.0014

0.0012

0.0007

0.0002

-0.0002

0.0011

0.0009

0.0005

0.0002

--0.0002

0.0006

0.0005

0.0002

--0.0001

--0.0004

0.0004

0.0003

--0.0001
--0.0001

8
G

4
3~
8
a

0.0002

-0.0001

-0.0003

--0.0001

-0.0002

-0.0004

-0.0007

--0.0001

--0.0002

-0.0003

---0.0006

H=0.4

Table lc

-,/8

3a/8

a/2

0.0004

--0.0001

-0.0003

-0.0001

0.0003

--0.0001

O.O02T

0.0019

0.0010

I
....

I-

0.0024

0.0017

0.0019

0.0016

0.0017

0.0013

O.O00T

0.0003

--0.0001

0.0010

0,0000

0.0005

0.0001

--0.0002

0.0009

0.0007

0.0004

0.0001

--0.0002

0.0004

0.0003

0.0001

--0.0001

--0.0003

0.0003

0.0003

0.0001

--0.0001

--0.0003

-0.0001

-0.0001

-0.0002

-0.0003

--0.0005

-0.0001

-0.0001

-0.0002

-o.ooo3

--0.0004

4
3a

0.0009
. .0. . .0. 0. .0. .9. . .

336

Sheng Y a o and H u a n g Yih

Table 2a Moment

M~,

.H =

Unit: ton .meter meter

I
I

a/8

0/4

3a/8

0/2

0.8119

0.32T5

0.1546

0.0895

0.6815

0.2569

0.1168

0.0669

0.2798

0.1901

0.1149

0.0783

oo

i
0
a

0.2422

o.1558

0.2060

0.1424

0.0852

0.05T9

a
4

--0.1076

--0.0457

0.0259

0.0554

0.0645

-0.1141

--0.0555

0.0116

0.0385

0.0470

3~

--0.1103

--0.0688

0.0314

0.0614

--0.0991

--0.0622

0.0206

0.0451

0.0000

0.0000

,_0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

O.O000

0.0000

_--o.o115
.I -0.j14~
i ....

H=0.6

"able 2b

0/8

a14

3a/8

a/2

0.7598

0.2866

0.1235

0.0635

0.6606

0.2368

0.0997

0.0509

[. . . . .

a
4

30
8

0.2382

0.1564

o.b684

0.0566

0.1860

0.1249

O.OT06

O.0443

-0.0662

O.OOTT

0.0394

0.0494

--0.0678

0.0014

0.0300

--0.1139

--0.0729

--0.0166

0.0264

-0.1016

--0.0646

0.0000

0.0660

0.0000

O.O00Q

0.1971

....

0.1~r

-0.1291

-olm

0.0390
0.0541

--0.01J5

0.0185

0.0428

O.OOOO

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

o.oooo

Plate on the Two-Parameter Elastic Foundation

337
H=0.4

Table 2c
I

a/8

-,/4

3a/8

0.6898
.

0.1373

0.6235

0.2050

0.1840

0.1142

0.1532

0.0979

-0.1547

--0.0906

-0.1409

3a
8

0.0864
.

I. . . . . . . . . .

0.0342

,. . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.0?51

0.0300

_ _ . . . . . 0:0;)i . . . . . . . I__

f . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.0992

a
T

I
f

p
t

"I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.2343

,J/2

i
I

0:0299

0.0495

0.0263

-0.0139

0.0205

0.0316

-0.0858

-o.o137

o.o175

li

0.02?3

--0.1162

-0.0751

--0.0219

0.0178

-0.1046

--0.0676

--0.0198

0.0145

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.000fl

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0440

0.0735

t,

When the layer is H = 0.6m and H = 0.4m the curves o f deflection w a n d moment M e at x.yaxle
are given separately. If T = 0, Q = 0 are taken at the calculation above we can get the results of the
Ref.[2] 9
By the calculation analysis above we find that when tlae plane dimension of plate is given and
H/h ~ 15, from the numerical results and curves,the Winkler model is ver~ near.the Vlazov's. That
indicates on this condition that we can calculate by Winklermodel and error is small. Otherwise
Winklermodel should lead to the larger error.
0

a/8

3a]8

a/4

/~/

.,.~a/2

a18

/j
~.002,t/

- - " ~ Solution of Vlazov

.... Solution of Winkter

,114

--'--

3a/8

a]2

Solution of Vlazov
Solution of Winkler

0027

0.0032
Fig.5 Displacementtu, H=0.6m

o. 1 3 1 7 t /
0
.
1

Unit: meter

Fig.6 Displacementw, H=0.4m

Unit: ineter

a/2

9.0992
9

/1/

- - " - - Solution of Vlazov

-- Solution of Winkler
Fig.7 Mement Me. H=0.6m Unit: ton.meter/meter

0. I8z3r

--'--

Solution of Vlazov
Solution of Winkler

Fig.8 Moment M,. H=0.4m Unit: ton.meter/meter

338

ShengYao and HuangYih

References

[ 1 ] Yang Yao-qian, Theory of Plates, China Railway Publishing House (1980). (in Chinese)
[ 2 ] Chang Fo-van and Hwang Siao-mei, A free rectangular plate on the elastic foundation, Applied
Mathematics and Mechanics, 5, 3 (1984), 1317--1324.
[ 3] Wang Ke-lin and Huang Yih, Rectangular plates with four free edges on elastic foundations,
Computation structural Mechanicsand Applications, 2 (1985). (in Chinese)
[ 4 ] Seivadurai, A.P., Elastic A~,al.vsis of Soil-Foundationlnteraction, Elsevier Scientific Publishing
Co. (I 979).