BEHAVIOUR OF ELASTIC PLATES RESTING ON ELASTIC BEAMS

Abstract

As the plate undergoes large deflections under the applied lateral loads, the non-linear theory of thin plates developed by von Karma" is used to solve the problem of thin plates. A computer code is developed to solve the problem of rectangular plates resting on elastic beams at its edges. The properties of each individual beam such as widths height and modulus of elasticity are considered. The non-linear von Karman equations together with the boundary conditions are converted into a set of non linear simultaneous algebraic equations using the centra! finite difference method The equations are solved numerically by using an iterative technique. Relaxation parameters are adopted to accelerate the convergence of solution. The computer model developed here can he used to determine the displacements and stresses in a rectangularplate mounted on four different beams at its edges.