Int. J. Non-linear Mechanm, 1966, Vol. 1, pp. 109 to 122. Pergamon Press Ltd.

Printed in Great Britain

LARGE DEFLECTIONS OF RECTANGULAR PLATES

K. T. SUNDARARA.IA IYENGAR* and M. MATIN NAQvIt

Abstract-Approximate solutions for the non-linear bending of thin rectangular plates are presented considering
large deflections for various boundary conditions. In the case of stress-free edges, solutions are given for von
K&man’s equations in terms of the stress function and the deflection of the plate.‘In the case of immovable edges,
equations are constructed in terms of the three displacements and these are solved. The solution is given by using
double series consisting of the appropriate Beam Functions which satisfy the boundary conditions. The differen-
tial equations are satisfied by using the orthogonality properties of the series. Numerical results for square plates
with uniform lateral load indicate good convergence of the series solution presented here.

1. INTRODUCTION
WHEN the plate deflections arising in modern construction practice are not small in com-
parison with the plate thickness, analysis of the important problems of structural strength
and stability of such plates cannot be adequately done on the basis of the classical linear
theory. When large deflections are considered in the analysis, there is interaction between
the membrane stresses and the curvature of the plate element. In the static case the equations
derived by von K&-man [l] are well known. Von Karman’s equations have been solved
for rectangular plates with various edge conditions by Way [2], Levy [3,4] and Yamaki [5].
Way has applied the energy method to the solution of a clamped rectangular plate with
immovable edges by assuming polynomial expressions for the displacements U, z, and u’.
Simply supported and clamped rectangular plates with movable and immovable edges
are treated by Levy using double trigonometric series which require a large number of
terms to get good convergence. Yamaki has used trigonometric expressions for the vertical
deflection and Fourier series for the stress function to obtain an approximate solution for
the large deflections of rectangular plates.
In this paper, a method is presented which can be applied to simply supported and
clamped rectangular plates with stress-free and immovable edges. The numerical results
indicate that the double series used here are reasonably rapidly convergent.

2. RECTANGULAR PLATES
The problem of large deflections of rectangular plates is investigated under two ty.pes
of edge conditions :
1. All edges are stress-free :
(i) clamped edges,
(ii) simply supported edges.
2. All edges are immovable :
(i) clamped edges,
(ii) simply supported edges.
* Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
? Department of Civil Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
109
110 K. T. SUNDARA RAJA IYENGARand M. MATIN NAQVI

3. BASIC EQUATIONS AND METHOD OF SOLUTION

3.1 All edaes are stress-free

Von K&man’s equations for the analysis of large deflections of plates are

where
F= stress function
J.$’= vertical deflection of the plate
4= intensity of un<formly distributed load
D= flexural rigidity of the plate
h= thickness of the plate
E= Young’s modulus of the material of the plate.
The mid-plane stresses are obtained from the stress function in the following way :
a2F a2F a2F
ax = p g’y = ax2’ Ly = -~ (3)
ax ay

a a
‘T
-*
I-

I
L-_-s X

0
it-

FIG. 1.

For the solution, we assume

F = cm 1n .LmXm(X)Y,(Y) (4)

M’= c c ~~,,W)~,(Y) (5)

P 4

where the functions X,(x) and 4,(x) are functions of x only and Y,(y) and I/J,(Y)are functions
of y only. Further, these functions are assumed to satisfy the relevant boundary conditions
 Large deflections of rectangular plates 111

and if they are orthogonal in the intervals ( -a, a) and (-b, b) respectively of the plate
(Fig. l), we can substitute the expressions in equations (4) and (5) into equations (1) and (2)
and obtain

where primes denote differentiation. Using the orthogonality properties of the functions
it is possible to express equations (6) and (7) in the following way :

giving

and also
(9)

giving

CPq = DP, (94

where
A,,,,, include f-coefficients
B,, include w-coefficients
C,, include w-coefficients
D, include f and u’ coefficients and the coefficients of series representing the lateral
load q as follows :

4 = c c qPdPP*q (10)
P Y

The equations (8a) and (9a) relate the f-coefficients to the w-coefficients and these give
non-linear algebraic equations for the determination of the several coefficient terms.

3.1.1 Clamped edges. The edge conditions are

a2F o a2F o awl o
(9 at x=fa; U’ = 0,
ay2=’ axay
-= ’ ax=
a2F o awl (11)
aZF
(ii) at y= kb; -=O, -= w = 0, 0
a2 axay * ay=

H
112 K. T. SUNDARARAJAIYENGAR
and M. MATINNAQVI

All these conditions are satisfied if we choose

-l
cash CI,X -~ cos c&x
x, = m = 1,2,...
cash u,a cos a,a
y = cashAY -~ cosPnY n= 1,2,...
cash /3,b cos j?,b
”

cash up cos apx

t (12)
4p = p = 1,2,. . .
cash aPa cos apa
cash Bqy cos BqY
II/, = q = 1,2, . . .
cash &b cos &b
J

where a,,, and /I, are obtained from the transcendental equations
tanh &,a) + tan @,a) = 0

I-
(i)
(ii) tanh (B,b) + tan (b,b) = 0 (13)

In this case a,a and j3,b can be replaced by /2, and then we have
tanh 1, + tan /2, = 0 (134
Values of 1, for values of m = 1,2, 3 and 4 are given in Table 1.
TABLE1

m 1 2 3 4

418 2.3650 5.4978 8.6394 11.7810

The functions X,, c$~,Y,,and +/, are orthogonal in their respective intervals and we have

(i) yXidx= y$idn= 2a

-Cl -a
(14)
(ii) 1 Y; dy = 1 $f dy = 2b
i
Using these functions and simplifying as described before, we get for equations (8)

where

(9 X; = !$c Kyix,
(ii) c#$#J;= & K;P’X, (16)
 Large defectionsof rectangular
plates 113

Relations 16(i) to (iii) enable us to calculate the coefficients K,, L,, etc., using the orthogo-
nality of the functions X, Y, 4 and 1,4.Similarly equation (7) gives for equations (9)

Equations (15) and (17) together with @a) and (9a) give the required non-linear algebraic
equations in the coeffkient terms.
Deflections of a clamped square plate. To indicate the accuracy of the method considered
above, the case of a square plate is considered. Considering only the first term in each
series, we get

4, = 4,
(18)
CII = 4,
where

41 =f11 K:‘L;’

Bll = Ew:, -&(K;“L;” - K;“L;“)

z w

Cl1 = Wll

Dll = % + ;fllwll --& (2K;1’L;‘1 - 2K:“L:“)

,
From relations (16) we have

K:’ = L’lI = -0.54986

K;” & L;ll = 0.42776

K:” = L:” = -0.85552

Equation (10) gives

qll = 069033 q (20)
With these values and for Poisson’s ratio = 0.316, we obtain for a = b = l/2,
fl 1 = -0.2108 Ew:, (21)
and
114 K. T. SUNLURARAJAIYENGAR
and M. MATINNAQVI

Solution of the cubic equation (22) gives the central deflection,

wg = 25222 U’1r (23)
To examine the convergence of the method, four terms in the series for F are considered by
takingf,,,f,,,f,,, andf,, and these coefficients are given by
fiI = -020601 Eut;,
fiz = fiI = 0.01394 Ew:, (24)
fz2 = O+IO2712Ewf,

The resulting cubic equation for the deflection coefficient is

(yy + 093078(y) = @005323$

The results of the central deflection parameter w,/h obtained by the above two approxima-
tions are plotted against the lateral load parameter qE4/Eh4 in Fig. 2, in which results of
Yamaki are also presented for comparison.

3.1.2 Simply supported edges

The boundary conditions are
a2F a2F a%
w = 0, -_= 0
o

(9 at x = &a; -
ax ay
= 0,
a2
>y2= ’
a2F a2F ah (25)
(ii) at y = +b; - = 0, ~ = 0, w = 0, ay2= 0
ax2 axay

All these conditions are satisfied by taking

cash a,x -~ cos a,x
x, = m = 1,2,...
cash a,a cos a,a

y = cash I%Y -~ cm B"Y

n n = 1,2,...
cash /?,b cos /?.b

t& = case
2a
p = 1,3,...

IjI, = cos-
2b

Again all the functions are orthogonal in their respective intervals and

(i) f 4; dx = a
-Ci
(27)
(ii)

and a, and /I?,,,satisfy the equation (13).

 Large deJections of rectangular plates 115

Yam&s results.

Second approximation.

First cpproximation.

200 300
-q t?/ E h4

FIG. 2. Central deflections of a square plate with clamped stress free edges
(v = 0.316).

Now, proceeding as was done for the previous case, we get for a square plate and by
taking only the first term, for Poisson’s ratio = 0.316,
j-r1 = -0.024399 Ewf ,
and

($ + W3595(@ = 0.26335% (28)

The results of this cubic equation are shown in Fig. 3 where the central deflection para-
meter wO/his plotted against q 14/Eh4. By taking only one term in the series in the present
method, the results coincide with those of Yamaki who has taken 8 terms for the series
for F.

3.2 Immovable edges

In this case, the solution is derived in terms of displacement components u, v and W.
The differential equations for large deflections of plates in terms of u, v and u’ are:

0 (29)

a% a20 a2t4 + a~ a% I ? aw a% aw _a%

~ r _ = o
(30)
ay2+%2+iaxaY ay aY2 aY a2 ax ax aY

(31)
116 K.T.SUNDARARAIAIYENGAR and M.MATINNAQVI

0
0 20 40 $3 sb UK)
-d/F

FIG. 3. Central deflections of a simply supported square plate with stress f

edges (v = 0.316).

where

0)

(ii) (32)

(iii)

l-v l+v
?= i=,
2
and v = Poisson’s ratio.
The solutions for U, u and w are taken as double series as follows :
(i) u = 1 c A,, 444 K(Y)
m n
(ii) 0 = cc 4, X,(x) MY) (33)
In n
(iii) W = 1 c M’,, X,(x) xl64
nt n J
Substituting these in equations (29) to (31) and using the orthogonality properties of the
functions &,, tj., X, and Y,, the coefficients in equations (33) are determined. Again two
cases are considered.
 Large deflections ofrectangularplates 117

3.2.1 Clamped edges

The boundary conditions are :
aw

I
at x = fa; 24 = 0, - = 0
(9 ax
(34)
aw
- = 0
(ii) at y= +b; 0 = 0,
aY
All these conditions are satisfied by taking

&(x) = sin y m = 1,2,...

$,(y) = sin y n = 1,2,...

> (35)
cash a,x -~ cos a,x
x?lw = m= 1,2,...
cash a,a cos a,a

cash /?,,Y cos P,Y

r.(y) = - ~ n = 1,2,...
cash &b cos fl,b ,
Again all the functions are orthogonal and a,,, and 8, must satisfy equation (13). To obtain
A,,,,, and B,, in terms of w,,,“,we substitute the expressions for u, v and w in the equations
(29) and (30) and simplifying we get

; ; Pr,mn&Yn + ; T Q~,mbnnYn = 0 (36)

giving
P 1,mn = - Q 1,mn (364

and
(37)

giving
P 2,mn = -Q 2,mn (374

where
n2
P 1,mn =
-- m2A,,, + 3 C nfL~‘A,j -I- g C CIZijKyL’jjBij
a2 J 1 J

z2
P 2,mn =
-- n2B,” + $1 $KT’B, + $ c c i/ZjKyL’fAij
b2 i
(38)
Q 1,mn =
118 K. T. SUNDARARAJA IYENGAR and M. MATIN NAQVI

and K’s and L’s are given by

(i) Xi = ;;K’;‘& y; =;zL;‘*.

n

(ii) Xj’ +K;‘X, y; =T!JxL;jy.

ln n

(iii) I#J~ +Kl;liXm *; =:CL;jy,

m n
(iv) X,X, = C K~“X, qy, = 1 Lpy,
m n
(39)
(v) Xix:’ = $ c KFX,,, qr = $C L;jsy,
m n

(vi) X:X; = 9 1 K%“X, y;y: = $CL;jsy.

m n

(vii) xix, = aAi c KY’%,, y;ys = 2 C L’;‘sIc/,

m n

(viii) X:X: = $ c Kp4, y;y; = Tt$ C L;&$,

m n

Substituting the expressions for u, u and w in equations (32), we obtain

(i) 0, = &c c FmXmK

m n

(ii) cY = $J c c Gm,XmK (40)

m n

(iii) zXY = & c c fcld#dJ”

m ”

where

(i) F,, = z 1 iK?‘A, + !f z jL’;jB,j + 3 c F F F WijW,,

i J
1.1
_LpirL;js ; vli2.As Kti’L”siS
( >

(ii) G,, = F T iK’jiAin + 5 5: jL’;J’B,,,jf 9 T C 1 C WijW,, ’ (41)

J j I s

VA.A
y KprL$S ; A;i K?f?@”

( >

(iii) H, = ; c AjL;jA,,,j + k z I,Ly’B,, + c c c c wijw,, 2 K’;“Ly’

i 1 i jr s
 Large deflections of rectangular plates 119

Representing

(42)

and assuming the lateral load as

4 = ~~4rn”XnlXl (43)

we obtain, using equation (31)

L j I j r s

KyL;js’“Fij + $ K~“L;j”G, (4.4)

1

In practice, only a tinite number of terms are taken in each series. A- and B-coefficients are
calculated in terms of w-coefficients using equations (36) and (37). Substituting these values
of A- and B-coefficients in the expressions for F-, G- and H-coefficients in equations (41),
these latter coefficients are determined in terms of w-coefficients. A final substitution of
these coefficients in equation (44) results in simultaneous cubic equations in the w-coeffi-
cients, the solution of which gives the deflections.
Defections of a clamped square plate. We take 2a = 2b = 1 and v = 0.316.
Equations (36) and (37) give

AlI = B,, = 0.09701- (45)

a
Equations (41) give

F,, = G,, = 2*2453-

41
a2
(46)
&
H,, = 3%03 -$-

Equation (44) yields

(yy + 0.2522(y) = 0.00144$ (47)

where
qI1 = 0.6903 q

The central deflection is given by

M’o= 25222 M’11 (48)

The results for this one term approximation are shown in Fig. 4.
120 and M. MATINNAQVI
K. T. SIJNDARARAJA IYENGAR

l.C

I .t

1.;

r”
04

1 -
---
_______
Authors
Yamaki
Levy

I I---- Way W.o.3)

0.r

C
0 100 zoo 300 400 0 6

- qb4fEh4

FIG. 4. Central deflections ofa clamped square plate with immovable edges (v = 0.316).

3.2.2 Simply supported edges

The boundary conditions are
a% o

I
0) at x = *a; U = 0, w = 0 and -=
ax2

---=
a% o
(49)
(ii) at y = f b’; u = 0, W= 0 and
aY2
All these conditions are satisfied by taking

c$, = sin y m = 1,2,...

+, = sin !!.TY n= 1,2,...

b
> (50)
x P
= cospxx
2a
p = 1,3,. . .

y = cos- q = 1,3,. . .
4 2b

Proceeding in the manner outlined for the clamped edges case, we obtain for a square
plate of side I = 2a = 2b and v = 0.316

A,, = B,i = 0.13517w:1 (51)

 Large dejlectiom of rectangular plates 121

The equation for u’i 1 is

(521

The central deflections are plotted in Fig. 5.

2s 0-

I4 -

I .2 -

f
r”
t0,.e -

0 .4 -

OL
0 30 100 0 200 250 3Oc
- qC'/Eh4

FIG. 5. Central deflections of a simply supported square plate with immovable edges
(v = 0.316).

4. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

It can be observed from Figs. 2 to 5 that the results of the first approximation, i.e. taking
only one term in the series, agree reasonably with those of other investigators who have
considered many terms in their analysis. As shown in Fig. 2, the accuracy can be improved
by taking more number of terms for the series for stress function. Inclusion of more terms
for the w-series will result in simultaneous equations of the third degree in the w,,. How-
ever, the accuracy could be improved by taking more terms in the series other than for W.
This is demonstrated in one of the cases investigated.

5. CONCLUDING REMARJB

Convergence of the solutions, as far as deflections are concerned, is sufficiently rapid and
the results obtained by a one-term approximation are good. However, convergence for
membrane stresses in the case of immovable edges would not be as satisfactory. This
fact will be examined later.
122 K.T. SUNDARA RAJAIYENGAR andM. MATINNAQVI

Acknowledgement-The authors wish to express their gratitude to Prof. N. S. Govinda Rao, Professor and Head
of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for his keen interest and en-
couragement shown during the course of this investigation.

REFERENCES
[l] S. TIMOSHENKO and S. WOINOWSKY-KRIEGER, Theory of Plates and Shells, 2nd edition, p. 417. McGraw-Hill
(1959).
[2] S. WAY, Uniformly loaded clamped rectangular plates with large deflection. Proc. 5th Znt. Congr. on Applied
Mechanics, 1938, pp. 123-128.
[3] S. LEVY, Bending of rectangular plates with large deflections. NACA Report No.=137 (1942).
[4] S. LEVY, Square plate with clamped edge under normal pressure producing large deflections. NACA Report
No. 740 (1942).
[5] N. YAMAKI,Influence of large amplitudes on flexural vibrations of elastic plates. Z. angew. Math. Mech. 41,
501 (1961).

(Received 28 October 1965)

RCnm&-On expose des solutions approchees pour le flechissement de plaques minces rectangulaires en con-
siderant de grandes deviations avec diverses conditions aux limites. Dans le cas de bords sans contrainte on obtient
les solutions au moyen des equations de von Karman en fonction de la fonction de contrainte et de la deviation de
la plaque. Dans le case de bords fixes on Ccrit les equations en fonction des trois dtplacements et on les r&out.
On trouve la solution en utilisant des series doubles se composant des fonctions-poutre appropriCs qui satisfont
les conditions aux limites. Les equations differentielles sont satisfaites en utilisant les propriettbs d’orthogonalite
des series. Les resultats numtriques pour des plaques car&es avec charge lattrale uniforme montrent une bonne
convergence des series solutions present&es ici.

Zusammenfassnng-Naherungslijsungen fur nichtlineare Biegung diinner Rechteckplatten unter Beriicksichtigung

grosser Auslenkungen werden fur verschiedene Randbedingungen angegeben. Fiir den Fall spannungsfreier
Rander werden Liisungen fur die von Karmanschen Gleichungen mittels Spannungsfunktion und Durchbiegung
der Platte gewonnen. Im Falle unbeweglicher Rander werden Gleichungen in Form von drei Verschiebungen
konstruiert und geloest. Die LBsuug wird durch Doppelreihen dargestellt. Letztere enthalten geeignete, die
RandbedingungG befriedingende, Ballcenfunktionen. Die Differentialgleichungen werden unter Anwendung der
Orthogonalitatseigenschaften der Reihen erfiillt. Numerische Ergebnisse fiir quandratische Platten unter gleich-
fijrmiger seitlicher Belastung deuten auf eine gute Konvergenz der mitgeteilten Reihenlosungen hin.

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