Modeling of plate flexure satisfying normal stress conditions at the plate surfaces

Abstract

Modeling of plate flexure, based on cubic variation of inplane displacements and quartic variation of the normal displacement has been discussed. Displacement functions satisfy the zero shear stress condition at top and bottom surfaces of the plate. The normal stress condition at the surfaces of the plate and the elemental equilibrium eqUlltions are enforced through the use of the Lagrangian multipliers in the variational procedure used. Several new models are available as special cases in this formulation. An illustrative example of a simply-supported plate subjected to sinusoidal loading is included to indicate relative merits of the special cases.