Finite Element Static, Dynamic and Stability Analyses of Arbitary Stiffened Plates - Jan Barik

FINITE ELEMENT STATIC, DYNAMIC AND
STABILITY ANALYSES OF ARBITRARY

STIFFENED PLATES
A thesis submitted to Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

for the award of the degree of
Do˝or of Philosophy
in
Engineering
by
Manoranjan Barik
Department of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture

Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur - 721 302, India
January, 1999
With dedication to
My Ailing Mother
With love to
My wife Trushna
And little ones Trushita and Monisha
Who endured all the sufferings silently
And looked for this day patiently
* INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
KHARAGPUR 721302, INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN ENGINEERING

TELEX : 06401-201 ITKG IN
AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE
GRAM : TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR 

(91) (03222) 55221-55223 (6 lines)
Professor Madhujit Mukhopadhyay PHONE :

(91) (03222) 77390-77392
B.E., Ph.D., D.Sc. Extn. : Office 4468, Res. 7468
Direct: (91) (03222) 77902 (Res.)
FAX : (91) 3222-55303
(91) 3222-55239
E-mail : jit@naval.iitkgp.ernet.in
Certificate
This is to certify that the thesis entitled ‘FINITE ELEMENT STATIC,
DYNAMIC AND STABILITY ANALYSES OF ARBITRARY STIFFENED
PLATES’ being submitted to the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharag-
pur by Mr. Manoranjan Barik for the award of the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Engineering is a record of bonafide research work carried
out by him under my supervision and guidance, and Mr. Barik fulfills the
requirements of the regulations of the degree. The results embodied in
this thesis have not been submitted to any other University or Institute
for the award of any degree or diploma.
Madhujit Mukhopadhyay
Acknowledgements
I express my sincere gratitude to Professor L. R. Raheja and Profes-

sor S. C. Mishra, the Ex-Heads, Department of Ocean Engineering and
Naval Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, who dur-
ing their headships extended all the computational and other related fa-
cilities of the Department to make my progress of work smooth.
I owe a lot to Professor S. K. Satsangi, Professor and Head, De-
partment of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture, whose out of the
way provisions and help made my work to see the end at last, amidst all
the obstacles.
The authority of Regional Engineering College, Rourkela granted
me the study leave and the Ministry of Human Resources and Develop-
ment, Government of India provided me the Fellowship to carry out the
research work. Their provisions are highly acknowledged with thanks.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. O. P. Sha, Assistant Professor,
Department of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture, who virtually
made me the owner of his Personal Computer.
Dr. A. H. Sheikh, Assistant Professor of the Department was always
eager to extend his analytical ability without any hesitation. My sincere
thanks are due to him.
With all the humbleness, I gratefully acknowledge the valuable sug-
gestions received on various occasions from Professor S. Majumdar,
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technol-
ogy, Kharagpur.
Special thanks are due to Mr. Parimol Kumar Roy without whose
help the completion of the thesis would have been delayed considerably.
v
vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I acknowledge the help received in various forms from all the facul-
ties and staff members of the Department whose excellent cooperation
made my stay here a homely, pleasant and enjoyable one.
Krishna and Prusheth, the LATEX lovers did marvelous jobs to han-
dle in my own way, the commas and semicolons of the LATEX. I sincerely
acknowledge their invaluable help.
The works could not have seen such a happy ending without the lov-
ing cooperation of Abhinna, who helped me in taking the final prints. I
feel short of words to thank him.
I express my sincere thanks to my Church Members at Rourkela
and Kharagpur and the IIT Christian Fellowship Members, particularly
James and Patrick who held me up through their fervent prayer support
throughout my research work.
The sweet presence of my co-scholars, Satish, Asokendu, Sushanta,
Murthy, Chaitali, Sangita ... made my stay at the Institute a memo-
rable one, for together we suffered the moments of trauma, together we
triumphed over the success, together we shared the moments of joy and
happiness and the greatest of all was that we understood each other better
than any body else.
Above all, I express my deep sense of gratitude to my Professor and
supervisor Professor Madhujit Mukhopadhyay, Professor, Department
of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture, Indian Institute of Tech-
nology, Kharagpur, whose constant encouragement, guidance and the
time I spent along with him was invaluable to me. There were moments
when he pushed me forward, enough to stumble, so that I may rise up
and stand upright on my own on firm ground. And often he dragged me
forward just to enable me to reach my goal. I adore him for his many ex-
cellent qualities and feel myself blessed to work under him, for working
with him was never a burden, rather a pleasure, the moments of which I
will be carrying along with me throughout my life’s journey.
Indian Institute of Technology

Kharagpur (Manoranjan Barik)
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 The Objective and Scope of Present Investigation . . . . 5
2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 9
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2 Review on Bare Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2.1 Static Analysis of Bare Plates . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Bare Plates . . . . . . 17
2.2.3 Stability Analysis of Bare Plates . . . . . . . . . 24
2.3 Various Methods of Analysis of Stiffened Plates . . . . . 30
2.4 Review on Stiffened Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2.4.1 Static Analysis of Stiffened Plates . . . . . . . . 33
2.4.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Stiffened Plates . . . 36
2.4.3 Stability Analysis of Stiffened Plates . . . . . . 43
3 MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION 47
3.1 The Basic Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
3.2 Proposed Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
3.2.1 The Basic Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3.2.2 The Transformation of the Coordinate . . . . . . 49
3.3 Arbitrary Bare Plate Bending Formulation . . . . . . . . 52
3.3.1 The Displacement Function . . . . . . . . . . . 52
3.3.2 Elastic Stiffness Matrix Formulation . . . . . . . 53
3.3.2.1 Stress-Strain Relationship . . . . . . . 53
vii
viii CONTENTS
3.3.2.2 Strain-Displacement Relationship . . . 54

3.3.2.3 Stiffness Matrix of the Bare Plate Bend-
ing Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
3.3.3 Consistent Mass Matrix of the Bare Plate Element 58
3.3.4 Geometric Stiffness Matrix of the Bare Plate El-
ement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
3.3.5 Boundary Conditions for the Bare Plate . . . . . 61
3.3.6 Stresses at the Nodes of the Bare Plate . . . . . . 65
3.4 Arbitrary Stiffened Plate Element Formulation . . . . . . 65
3.4.1 The Displacement Function . . . . . . . . . . . 66
3.4.2 The Plate Element Formulation . . . . . . . . . 67
3.4.2.3 Elastic Stiffness Matrix of the Plate El-
ement of the Stiffened Plate . . . . . . 70
3.4.2.4 Consistent Mass Matrix of the Plate El-
ement of the Stiffened Plate . . . . . . 71
3.4.2.5 Geometric Stiffness Matrix of the Plate
Element of the Stiffened Plate . . . . . 73
3.4.3 The Stiffener Element Formulation . . . . . . . 81
3.4.3.1 Coordinate Transformation for the Stiff-
ener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
3.4.3.4 Elastic Stiffness Matrix of the Stiffener
Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
3.4.3.5 Consistent Mass Matrix of the Stiff-
ener Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
3.4.3.6 Geometric Stiffness Matrix of the Stiff-
ener Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
3.4.4 Boundary Conditions for the Stiffened Plate . . . 93
CONTENTS ix
3.4.5 Stresses in the Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

3.5 Consistent Load Vector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
3.6 Solution Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
3.6.1 Static Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
3.6.2 Free Vibration Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
3.6.3 Stability Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
4 COMPUTER IMPLEMENTATION 101

4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
4.2 Application Domain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
4.3 Description of the Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.3.1 Preprocessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.3.1.1 function input() . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.3.1.2 function nodgen() . . . . . . . . . . . 107
4.3.1.3 function stcod() . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
4.3.1.4 function connect() . . . . . . . . . . . 109
4.3.1.5 function band() . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
4.3.1.6 function xycod() . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
4.3.1.7 function sfr1() . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
4.3.1.8 function rgdplt() . . . . . . . . . . . 110
4.3.1.9 function stifin() . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
4.3.1.10 function rgdstf() . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
4.3.2 Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
4.3.2.1 function form-stif-mass-geom() . . . 111
4.3.2.2 function elm-stif-mass-geom() . . . . 111
4.3.2.3 function elm-stf-mass-geom() . . . . 113
4.3.2.4 function global-stif-mass-geom() . . . 113
4.3.2.5 function global-stf-mass-geom() . . . 113
4.3.2.6 function global() . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
4.3.2.7 function elm-load() . . . . . . . . . . 113
4.3.2.8 function gbl-load() . . . . . . . . . . 113
x CONTENTS
4.3.2.9 function bnd-stif() . . . . . . . . . . . 114

4.3.2.10 function sfr2() . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.3.2.11 function bmat() . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.3.2.12 function dbmat() . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.3.2.13 function solve() . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.3.2.14 function r8usiv() . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.3.3 Postprocessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
5 NUMERICAL EXAMPLES 119

5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
5.2 Arbitrary Bare Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
5.2.1 Static Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates . . . . . 120
5.2.1.1 Rectangular Plates Under Uniformly Dis-
tributed Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
5.2.1.2 Rectangular Plates Under Concentrated
Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
5.2.1.3 All Edges Clamped Rhombic Plates Un-
der UDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
5.2.1.4 All Edges Simply Supported Rhombic
Plates Under UDL . . . . . . . . . . . 124
5.2.1.5 Annular Sector Plate Under Concen-
trated Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
5.2.1.6 Circular Plate Under Different Load-
ings and Boundary Conditions . . . . 128
5.2.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plate . 130
5.2.2.1 Free Vibration of Rectangular and Square
Bare Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
5.2.2.2 Free Vibration of Bare Skew Plates . . 132
5.2.2.3 Free Vibration of Trapezoidal Bare Plates135
5.2.2.4 Free Vibration of Triangular Bare Plates 138
CONTENTS xi
5.2.2.5 Free Vibration of Bare Annular Sector

Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
5.2.2.6 Free Vibration of Bare Elliptical and
Circular Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
5.2.3 Stability Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates . . . . 145
5.2.3.1 Buckling of Uniaxially Compressed Sim-
ply Supported bare Rectangular Plates 145
5.2.3.2 Buckling of Uniaxially Compressed Clamped
Bare Rectangular Plates . . . . . . . . 147
5.2.3.3 Buckling of Biaxially Compressed Clamped
Bare Rectangular Plates . . . . . . . . 147
5.2.3.4 Buckling of Simply Supported Bare Rect-
angular Plates Uniaxially Compressed
by Triangular Load . . . . . . . . . . 148
5.2.3.5 Buckling of Uniaxially Compressed Bare
Skew Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
5.2.3.6 Buckling of Uniformly Compressed Bare
Circular Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
5.3 Arbitrary Stiffened Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
5.3.1 Static Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates . . . 151
5.3.1.1 Square Plate with a Central Stiffener . 152
5.3.1.2 Cross Stiffened Rectangular Plate . . . 155
5.3.1.3 Rectangular Multi-Stiffened Plate . . . 162
5.3.1.4 Rectangular Slab with Two Edge Beams 165
5.3.1.5 Stiffened Skew Bridge Deck . . . . . 170
5.3.1.6 Stiffened Curved Bridge Deck . . . . 173
5.3.1.7 Circular Plate with a Central Stiffener 178
5.3.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates180
5.3.2.1 Free Vibration of Concentrically Stiff-
ened Clamped Square Plate . . . . . . 180
xii CONTENTS
5.3.2.2 Free Vibration of Eccentrically Stiff-

ened Clamped Square Plate . . . . . . 182
5.3.2.3 Free Vibration of Cross Stiffened Square
Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
ened Rectangular Plate . . . . . . . . 183
5.3.2.5 Free Vibration of Rectangular Multi-
stiffened Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
5.3.2.6 Free Vibration of Multi-stiffened Skew
Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
5.3.2.7 Free Vibration of Trapezoidal Stiffened
Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
5.3.2.8 Free Vibration of Concentrically Stiff-
ened Annular Sector Plates . . . . . . 192
ened Annular Sector Plate . . . . . . . 194
5.3.2.10 Free Vibration of Circular Stiffened Plates197
5.3.2.11 Free Vibration of Elliptical Stiffened
Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
5.3.3 Stability Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates . 201
5.3.3.1 Buckling of Square Stiffened Plates . . 201
5.3.3.2 Buckling of Simply Supported Rect-
angular Stiffened Plates . . . . . . . . 202
5.3.3.3 Buckling of Rectangular Stiffened Plates
with Different Boundary Conditions . 202
5.3.3.4 Buckling of Skew Stiffened Plates with
Different Boundary Conditions . . . . 206
5.3.3.5 Buckling of Uniformly Compressed Di-
ametrically Stiffened Circular Plates . 206
6 CONCLUSIONS 209
CONTENTS xiii
6.1 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

6.2 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
6.3 Further Scope of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Preface
Plates are in extensive use as one of the important structural elements

in the modern day structures in civil, marine, aeronautical and mechan-
ical engineering. These plates may assume arbitrary shapes depending
on their structural behaviour, the area of application and the type of ser-
vices they are put to. Though they have wide applications without any
rib reinforcement, but various engineering structures demand economy
in weight with enhancement of strength through stiffening of the plated
structures. When the arbitrarily shaped bare and the stiffened plates are
in service, they are subjected to the static lateral load, the dynamic load
and the inplane load. To investigate the actual behaviour of the plates
under these loads, rigorous analysis is required to assess the strength and
stability under various boundary conditions.
In the present era of super speed number crunching machines, numer-
ical methods have found their way into the structural analysis because of
the non-amenability of analytical solutions for complex structural prob-
lems such as arising out of the arbitrary shape of the plates. Among these
numerical tools, the finite element method has been proved to be the most
versatile and powerful one because of its generality and capability to han-
dle structural and geometrical complexities with ease. Several number
of commercial softwares and in-house codes have been developed us-
ing the finite element method for carrying out the structural analyses.
But most of these packages have inadequate facility for efficient stiff-
ener modelling, improper specification of boundary conditions in case of
a curved boundary and loss of generality in the mesh division process
because of the stiffener position in the plate. Moreover, these codes are
xv
xvi PREFACE
not susceptible to easy modification in case of need. On the other hand,

though there are plenty of elements developed so far in the finite element
domain, many have been found to be inadequate and inefficient in some
way or other for analyzing plates of arbitrary geometrical configurations.
The present investigation is an attempt to accommodate the unstiffened
and the stiffened plate problems of arbitrary shapes by developing new
efficient elements.
A plate bending element has been developed following the philoso-
phy of isoparametric element to enable the analysis of arbitrarily shaped
bare plates. The basic element considered for the development of this ele-
ment is the simplest 12 degrees of freedom rectangular plate bending ele-
ment popularly known as ACM element. Bare plates of many geometrical
configurations have been analyzed for static, dynamic and stability mak-
ing use of this new element. For analyzing arbitrary stiffened plates, an 8
degrees of freedom rectangular plane stress element has been combined
to the basic ACM element. The stiffener modelling has been done con-
sidering a curved general element which can be placed anywhere within
the plate element which removes the restraint of positioning the stiffen-
ers along the nodal lines. The static, free vibration and buckling analyses
have been performed on arbitrary plates with eccentric and concentric
stiffeners using this stiffened plate bending element.
The thesis has been presented in six chapters. It also includes the
bibliography section showing the important references concerned with
the present investigation.
Chapter 1 includes the general introduction and the scope of present
investigation.
The review of literature confining to the scope of the study has been
presented in the Chapter 2. The general methods of analysis of the stiff-
ened plates have been briefly addressed in this chapter.
The Chapter 3 comprises the mathematical formulation of the two
elements. The elastic and the geometric stiffness matrices and the mass
PREFACE xvii
matrix for the plate element and the stiffener element have been formu-
lated separately. The boundary conditions have been implemented by
consistently formulating the stiffness matrices of the boundary line and
adding them to the global stiffness matrix.
The Chapter 4 briefly describes the computer programme implemen-
tation of the theoretical formulation presented in Chapter 3. The different
functions and the associated variables which have been used in writing
the codes in C++ language have been presented in brief. A few numbers
of flowchart of the computer codes have been illustrated.
Several numerical examples which include the static, the free vibra-
tion and the stability analyses of bare and the stiffened plates of various
geometries have been presented in the Chapter 5 to validate the formu-
lation of the proposed method. Attempt has been made to include a wide
spectrum of problems of diverse geometrical plate shapes. The results
have been compared wherever possible and the discrepancies in them
have been discussed.
The Chapter 6 sums up and concludes the present investigation. An
account of possible scope of extension to the present study along with a
list of publications has been appended to the concluding remarks.
At the end, some important publications and books referred during
the present investigation have been listed in the Bibliography section.
List of Symbols
Although all the principal symbols used in this thesis are defined in the
text as they occur, a list of them is presented below for easy reference. On
some occasions, a single symbol is used for different meanings depend-
ing on the context and thus its uniqueness is lost. The contextual expla-
nation of the symbol at its appropriate place of use is hoped to eliminate
the confusion.
English
As cross sectional area of the stiffener
[Bp ] strain matrix for plate element of stiffened plate
[Bs ] strain matrix for stiffener element of stiffened plate
[Bu ] strain matrix for bare plate element
dx, dy element length in x and y-direction
dv volume of the element
[Du ] rigidity matrix of bare plate element
[Dp ] rigidity matrix of stiffened plate element
[Ds ] rigidity matrix of stiffener element
E modulus of elasticity
{f¨} acceleration field vector
{FI } nodal inertia force parameter
{fku } reaction component per unit length of bare plate
Fx , Fy , Fxy inplane forces
FS axial force in the stiffener
G modulus of rigidity
Is second moment of area of the stiffener
xix
xx LIST OF SYMBOLS
|J| jacobian
Js torsional constant of the stiffener
|Jst | jacobian of the stiffener
[K] global elastic stiffness matrix
[KG ] global geometric stiffness matrix
[Ku ]e elastic stiffness matrix of the bare plate bending element
[KuG ]e geometric stiffness matrix of the bare plate bending element
[Ku ] global elastic stiffness matrix of the bare plate
[KuG ] global geometric stiffness matrix of the bare plate
[Kp ]e elastic stiffness matrix of the stiffened plate element
[KpG ]e geometric stiffness matrix of the stiffened plate element
[Ks ]e elastic stiffness matrix of the stiffener element
[KsG ]e geometric stiffness matrix of the stiffener element
[Kp ]b stiffness matrix of the boundary of stiffened plate
[Ku ]b stiffness matrix of the boundary line of the bare plate
ku , kv , kw translational restraint coefficient
kα , kβ rotational restraint coefficient
[M ] global consistent mass matrix
[Mu ]e consistent mass matrix of the bare plate bending element
[Mp ]e consistent mass matrix of the stiffened plate element
[Ms ]e consistent mass matrix of the stiffener element
Ms bending moment of the stiffener
Mx , My , Mxy bending moments of the plate
Ni (s, t) cubic serendipity shape functions
Nu , Nv , Nw finite element shape functions
Nθξ , Nθη finite element shape functions
{P } global load vector
{P }e element load vector
q load intensity
s-t axis system of the plate in the mapped domain
s1 length along the boundary
xxi
Ss first moment of area of the stiffener

t thickness of the plate
Ts torsional moment of the stiffener
u, v inplane displacements
u´, v´, w´ displacements at midplane of the plate
w out of plane displacement
{ẅ} acceleration vector in z-direction
xi , y i Cartesian nodal coordinates
x, y, z global axis system
x1 -y1 local axes at the point of a curved boundary
x´-y´ local axes at any point of a curved stiffener
Greek
α angle between the x´ -y´ and x-y axes system
β angle between the x1 -y1 and x-y axes system
{δ}u nodal displacement vector of bare plate
{δ}p nodal displacement vector of stiffened plate
{δ̈}u nodal acceleration vector of bare plate
ξ-η axis system of the element in the mapped domain
{σ}u stress resultant vector of bare plate
{σ}p stress resultant vector of stiffened plate
{σ}s stress resultant vector of stiffener
σx , σy , τxy stresses at a point
{²}u generalized strain vector of bare plate
{²}uG geometric strain vector of bare plate
{²}p strain vector of stiffened plate element
{²}pE elastic plate strain vector
{²}pG geometric plate strain vector
{²}s strain vector of the stiffener
{²}sE elastic stiffener strain vector
{²}sG geometric stiffener strain vector
xxii LIST OF SYMBOLS
²x , ²y , γxy bending strains

ν Poisson´ s ratio
∂ ∂
, partial derivatives with respect to x and y
∂x ∂y
ρ mass density of the material
θn , θt slopes normal and transverse to the boundary
λ stiffener direction in mapped domain
λ1 boundary line direction in mapped domain
{ψ} normalized vector
ω frequency of vibration
Subscripts
u for bare plate
G for geometric stiffness matrix
b for boundary
p for the plate element of the stiffened plate
s for the stiffener element of the stiffened plate
Operators
(˙ ) first derivative with respect to time
¨( ) second derivative with respect to time
[ ]−1 inverse of the matrix
[ ]−T transpose of the matrix
List of Tables
3.1 Cubic Serendipity Shape Function . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5.1 Numerical factors α, β and β1 for uniformly loaded

simply supported rectangular plates . . . . . . . . . . 122
5.2 Numerical factors α for simply supported rectangular
plates with central concentrated load . . . . . . . . . 122
5.3 Deflection and moments at the centre of the all edges
clamped skew rhombic plates under UDL . . . . . . . 123
5.4 Deflection and moments at the centre of the all edges
simply supported skew rhombic plates under UDL . . 126
5.5 Deflection and moments along the mid-span radial line
(x-axis) of the annular sector plate . . . . . . . . . . . 128
5.6 Deflection and moments at the centre of the circular
plate under different loading and boundary conditions 129
5.7 Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ/D)1/2 for rectan-
gular plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
5.8 Convergence of frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ/D)1/2
for all edges simply supported square plate . . . . . . 132
5.9 Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρt/D)1/2 of skew plates
for different skew angles (φ) and for a/b = 1.0, ν = 0.3 133
5.10 Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ t/D)1/2 of skew
plates for different skew angles (φ) and for a/b = 2.0,
ν = 0.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
5.11 Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ/D)1/2 for all edges
simply supported trapezoidal plate . . . . . . . . . . . 136
xxiii
xxiv LIST OF TABLES
r
ωa2 ρ
5.12 Frequency parameters λ = for all edges clamped
2π D
trapezoidal plate . . . . . . . . . r. . . . . . . . . . . . 137
ρ
5.13 Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 for triangular
D
plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
5.14 Values of ω for annular sector plates . . . . . . . . . . 141
5.15 Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρh/D)1/2 for elliptical
and circular plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
5.16 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for uniformly com-
pressed all edges simply supported rectangular plates 145
pressed all edges clamped rectangular plates . . . . . 146
5.18 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for all edges clamped
rectangular plates with biaxial uniform compression . 147
5.19 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for uniaxially com-
pressed all edges simply supported rectangular plates
with triangular load i.e; α = 1 in the expression Nx =
y
N0 (1 − α ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
b
5.20 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for uniaxially com-
pressed all edges simply supported and clamped skew
plates (Aspect ratio = 1.0, ν = 0.3) . . . . . . . . . . . 149
5.21 Buckling parameter k = (Nr )cr a2 /D for uniformly
compressed simply supported and clamped circular
plates (ν = 0.3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
5.22 Deflection at the centre of simply supported square
stiffened plate (×104 mm.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
5.23 Convergence of deflection (w), plate moment (My ) and
plate stress (σx ) of the eccentrically stiffened square
plate at its centre with different mesh divisions. . . . . 154
5.24 Central deflection of rectangular cross-stiffened plate
(×103 mm.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
LIST OF TABLES xxv
5.25 Geometrical and material properties of the specimens

of the rectangular slab with edge beams . . . . . . . . 166
5.26 Deflection and stress at the beam soffit of the rectan-
gular slab with edge beams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
5.27 Convergence of deflection at outer girder and outer
edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
5.28 Convergence of moments at the centre . . . . . . . . . 175
5.29 Deflection (mm.) at inner edge and inner girder . . . 176
5.30 Deflection (mm.) at outer girder and outer edge . . . 177
5.31 Frequency in Hz of a clamped square plate with a cen-
tral concentric stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
5.32 Frequency in Hz of a clamped square plate with a cen-
tral eccentric stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
p
5.33 Frequency parameter [ω(a/π)2 ρt/D] of square cross-
stiffened plate with concentric stiffeners having all edges
clamped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
5.34 Frequency in Hz of a simply supported rectangular
plate with a central L-shaped eccentric stiffener in the
shorter span direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
p
5.35 Frequency parameter [ω(a/R)2 ρt/D] of simply sup-
ported multi-stiffened rectangular plate with concen-
tric stiffeners in one direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
p
5.36 Frequency parameter [ω(a/R)2 ρh/D] of a simply
supported multi-stiffened skew plate having concen-
tric stiffeners in one direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
5.37 Frequency in Hz of all edges clamped trapezoidal plate
with a central concentric stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . 192
p
5.38 Frequency parameter [ωa2 ρt/D] of annular sector
plate with concentrically placed circumferential edge
stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
xxvi LIST OF TABLES
p
5.39 Frequency parameter [ωa2 ρt/D] of annular sector
plate with eccentrically placed circumferential edge
stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
5.40 Frequency (Hz/Parameter) of all edges clamped cir-
cular stiffened plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
5.41 Frequency in Hz of a simply supported elliptical plate
with a central eccentric stiffener in the shorter span
direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
5.42 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for square plate
with a central concentric stiffener subjected to uniax-
ial and uniform compression in the stiffener direction 203
pressed all edges simply supported rectangular stiff-
ened plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
5.44 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for rectangular plate
with a central concentric stiffener subjected to uniax-
ial and uniform compression in the stiffener direction 205
5.45 Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for skew stiffened
plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
5.46 Buckling parameter k = (Nr )cr a2 /D for uniformly
compressed circular plates with concentric stiffeners
along the diameter with varying flexural and torsional
stiffness parameters of the stiffener . . . . . . . . . . 207
List of Figures
3.1 Mapping of the arbitrarily shaped plate . . . . . . . . 50

3.2 Mapping of the element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
3.3 Coordinate axes at a typical point of a curved boundary 62
3.4 Stretching of an element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
3.5 Coordinate axes at any point of a curved stiffener . . 81
3.6 Sectional view of a typical stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . 83
3.7 Stiffener orientation in the mapped domain . . . . . . 86
4.1 Basic Elements of the Computer Programmes . . . . 105

4.2 Preprocessor unit of the computer codes . . . . . . . . 108
4.3 Processor unit of the computer codes . . . . . . . . . 112
4.4 Flowchart for free vibration and buckling analysis . . 117
5.1 Location of the boundary nodal points of a rectangu-

lar plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
5.2 Location of the boundary nodal points of a skew plate 125
5.3 Annular sector plate showing boundary nodal points . 127
5.4 Circular plate with boundary nodal points . . . . . . 130
5.5 A typical skew plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
5.6 Trapezoidal plate for simple supports showing the bound-
ary nodal points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
5.7 Trapezoidal plate for clamped supports . . . . . . . . 136
5.8 Right triangular plate with boundary nodal points . . 138
5.9 Annular sector plate of sector angle 90◦ . . . . . . . . 140
5.10 Simply supported square plate with a central stiffener 152
xxvii
xxviii LIST OF FIGURES
5.11 Variation of deflection along centrelines of simply sup-

ported square plate with a central stiffener . . . . . . 153
5.12 Simply supported rectangular plate with a central stiff-
ener in each direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
5.13 Deflection at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm. for
plate with two concentric stiffeners, under distributed
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
5.14 Deflection at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm. for
plate with two eccentric stiffeners, under distributed
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
5.15 Moment Mxx at y = 381.0 mm. and y = 762.0 mm. for
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
5.17 Moment M yy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm. for
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
5.18 Moment Myy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm. for
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
5.19 Deflections at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm. for
plate with two stiffeners under concentrated load . . . 160
5.20 Moment Mxx at y = 381.0 mm. and y = 762.0 mm.
for plate with two concentric stiffeners under concen-
trated load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
plate with two eccentric stiffeners under concentrated
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
LIST OF FIGURES xxix
5.22 Moment Myy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm.

for plate with two concentric stiffeners under concen-
trated load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
5.23 Moment Myy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm. for
plate with two eccentric stiffeners under concentrated
load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
5.24 Rectangular multi-stiffened plate . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
5.25 Variation of deflection along the centre line of the rect-
angular multi-stiffened plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
5.26 Variation of plate moment Mx along the centre line of
the rectangular multi-stiffened plate . . . . . . . . . . 164
5.27 Rectangular slab with two edge beams . . . . . . . . . 167
5.28 Deflection along A-A of the slab with edge beams . . . 167
5.29 Deflection along B-B of the slab with edge beams . . . 168
5.30 Deflection along C-C of the slab with edge beams . . . 168
5.31 Stress at the beam soffit of the slab with edge beams . 169
5.32 Skew bridge deck with beams in both directions . . . 171
5.33 Deflection along A-A of the stiffened skew bridge deck 172
5.34 Deflection along B-B of the stiffened skew bridge deck 172
5.35 Curved bridge deck with two circumferential girders 174
5.36 Simply supported circular plate with a stiffener along
the diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
5.37 Deflection along diameters of a simply supported cir-
cular plate under distributed load . . . . . . . . . . . 179
5.38 Clamped square plate with a central eccentric stiffener 182
5.39 Simply supported rectangular plate with a central ec-
centric stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
5.40 Simply supported rectangular plate with concentric
stiffeners in one direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
5.41 Simply supported skew plate with concentric stiffen-
ers in one direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
xxx LIST OF FIGURES
5.42 All edges clamped trapezoidal plate with a concentric

stiffener in one direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
5.43 Annular sector plate with concentrically placed cir-
cumferential stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
5.44 Annular sector plate with eccentrically placed circum-
ferential stiffeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
5.45 Circular plate with a central stiffener . . . . . . . . . 199
5.46 Elliptical plate with a central stiffener . . . . . . . . . 200
Chapter - 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Plates used as structural elements take different shapes due to their
functional or structural requirements as well as from the aesthetic con-
sideration. These arbitrarily shaped, elastic thin plates are widely used
in civil, marine, aeronautical and mechanical engineering applications.
Various engineering structures consisting of these thin plates of differ-
ent shapes are often stiffened with stiffening ribs for achieving greater
strength with relatively less material and thus making the structure cost
effective. While the stiffening elements add negligible weight to the over-
all structure, their influence on strength and stability is enormous. In this
process the strength/weight ratio is improved dramatically which is vital
in some specific structures like ship, aircrafts and similar other types.
These plates of arbitrary geometries are subjected to the static lat-
eral load, the dynamic load and the inplane load for which three types
of analysis such as static, free vibration and stability are to be carried
out. In these analyses, the geometry of the plate as well as its boundary
conditions play a major role in the choice of the methods of the solution.
Exact solutions for plates are available only for certain shapes, bound-
aries and loading conditions. An attempt to have an analytical solution
1
2 INTRODUCTION
of the arbitrarily shaped plates with complex boundary conditions may

lead to an extremely tedious though not impossible task because of the
complex nature of the problem arising out of a curved boundary. As a
result, various methods such as Rayleigh-Ritz method, Galerkin method
and the likes have been used by several investigators depending on the
suitability of the problem. Some investigators [83] have attempted the
conformal mapping [166] for solving plates of regular polygonal shape
whereas some have used the finite strip method [34] and the spline finite
strip method [37] for solving problems relating to plates of arbitrary ge-
ometry apart from the popular finite element method. Investigators from
various fields have contributed to the study of bare plates and stiffened
plates making the library of literature rich in the area of static, dynamic
and stability analyses of these plates.
The stiffened plates consist of a skin and a varying number of ribs.
The skin is termed as plate throughout this thesis and the terms such
as rib, stiffener, girder, beam and stringer are used interchangeably to
indicate the ribs. When the rib centroid is coincident with the plate mid-
dle surface, no inplane stresses are developed due to the bending of the
stiffener and this class of stiffened plates is identified as concentrically
stiffened plates. In the other case, when the rib centroid and the plate
middle surface are eccentric, the inplane stresses developed in the plate
due to the stiffener bending have to be considered and this class of stiff-
ened plates is designated as eccentrically stiffened plates.
The optimum design of stiffened plate structures demands an effec-
tive analytical procedure. But the stiffening arrangements pose another
difficulty in addition to the inherent problem due to the diverse geometri-
cal configurations, loading and boundary conditions encountered in case
of bare plates for obtaining a suitable theoretical solution. Hence, the
earlier investigators modelled the stiffened plated system into a simpler
1.1 Introduction 3
structural form such as an orthotropic plate or a grid system which were

amenable to the solution procedure developed at that time. As the or-
thotropic plate model is applicable to closely equispaced stiffeners of
equal size only and the grid model can perform well only in case of
orthogonal stiffeners, the applicability of the models to a generalized
problem is severely restricted because of the simplicity inherent in the
approximations.
The emergence of the digital computers with their enormous com-
puting speed and core memory capacity has changed the outlook of the
structural analysts and caused the evolution of various numerical meth-
ods such as the finite element, the finite difference, the finite strip and the
boundary element method. These numerical tools allow the researchers
to model the structure in a more realistic manner with simpler mathemat-
ical forms.
In view of the availability of the computational facility, the orthotropic
and the grillage models can be replaced by the plate beam idealization
where the plate and the stiffeners can be modelled separately maintaining
the monolithic connection between the two and then one of the numeri-
cal methods may be applied for their analysis. Among all the numerical
methods, the finite element method has been found to be a powerful, ver-
satile and accurate one in the analysis of complex structures. But, in the
finite element analysis of plates with arbitrary configurations, the main
problem arises in the choice of a suitable element, as many of the present
elements are unable to cater to the arbitrary plate geometry.
In the past the most common approach to the finite element analysis
of arbitrarily shaped plates has been to approximate the curved bound-
aries with a large number of straight-edged triangular elements [7] [9]
[63] [108] or developing special purpose elements permitting the exact
representation of curved boundaries [141] or using a triangular element
4 INTRODUCTION
with one of the sides being modified to include a curved edge [35]. But
these elements being developed to accommodate a particular plate geom-
etry, none of them can be generalized to represent an arbitrary edge such
as straight, skew or curved.
Another successful approach in this pursuit is the application of the
isoparametric element because of its generality to model a curved bound-
ary successfully. Unfortunately, this element which is having the shear
strain term based on the Mindlin’s theory becomes very stiff when used
to model thin structures, resulting inexact solutions. This effect is termed
as shear-locking which makes this otherwise successful element unsuit-
able. Much effort has been put to identify and eliminate the source of
this shear-locking effect. The most successful technique for alleviating
the problem associated with this shear-locking is through evaluating cer-
tain transverse shear coefficients of the element stiffness matrix using
a lower order numerical integration rule than that which is required to
evaluate the coefficients exactly as discussed by Zienkiewicz and Tay-
lor [199]. This technique which is known as reduced or selective inte-
gration has been used on elements which shear-lock when exact integra-
tion is performed. However, an inexact integration scheme results in a
rank deficient element stiffness matrix, which in turn, generates addi-
tional zero strain deformation modes in a solution known as zero-energy
modes, other than the rigid body movements and which must be sup-
pressed through stabilization techniques. It has been found that all the
displacement-based shear deformable plate elements of this kind fail on
many occasions either by shear-locking or singular behaviour.
Thus it is felt that in spite of vast number of elements present in the
literature [67] since the inception of the finite element method in the early
1960s, still there is a need of development of suitable elements which can
model the thin plates of arbitrary geometry successfully.
1.2 The Objective and Scope of Present Investigation 5
1.2 The Objective and Scope of Present

Investigation
The objective of the present investigation is to formulate simple and ef-
ficient finite elements for static, free vibration and buckling analyses of
the bare and stiffened plates of arbitrary geometrical shapes under diverse
loading and boundary conditions and demonstrate the performance of the
proposed elements through the numerical examples in the related fields.
In this thesis, a new four-noded plate bending element is proposed
for the analysis of the bare plates, which is derived, though from the sim-
plest rectangular basic plate bending element having 12 degrees of free-
dom largely known as ACM Element [1], but it has all the advantages of
the isoparametric element to model an arbitrary plate shape and without
the disadvantage of the shear locking problem. Further, for the analysis
of the stiffened plates, a stiffened plate bending element is formulated
by combining the four-noded rectangular plane stress element having 8
degrees of freedom with the 12 degrees of freedom ACM Plate Bending
Element. The incorporation of boundary conditions is made in the most
general manner to cater to the need of the curved boundary as well as to
the more practical mixed boundary conditions.
As the element developed for the bare plate analysis is capable of
modelling an arbitrary plate geometry, a large number of static, dynamic
and stability problems in the bare plate domain of square, rectangular,
skew, trapezoidal, triangular, circular, elliptical, annular sector geome-
tries are considered and the results are presented showing the elegance
and efficiency of the proposed element.
The element developed for the analysis of the stiffened plates has the
same feature of accommodating the arbitrary shape of the plate geome-
tries and the stiffener modelling is done for a general one. The stiffener
6 INTRODUCTION
is modelled in such a way as to lie anywhere within the plate element and
need not follow the nodal lines. Further, in the formulation, their orien-
tation is kept arbitrary which makes the analysis more flexible and the
mesh division independent of their location and orientation. The same
displacement interpolation functions as used for the plate elements are
adopted in the formulation of the stiffener element. This facilitates to
express the stiffness and the mass matrices of the stiffener in terms of the
nodal parameters of the plate element thus ensuring the compatibility of
the stiffener with the plate.
Similar to the bare plate; static, dynamic and stability analyses of
various stiffened plate configurations such as square, rectangular, skew,
trapezoidal, triangular, circular, elliptical, annular sector etc. with various
stiffener positions have been carried out.
The implementation of the methodology to different types of analysis
described in the investigation is made through the development of com-
puter programmes in C++. To make the analysis more cost effective, the
global elastic stiffness, mass and geometric stiffness matrices are stored
using the skyline storage technique. No standard or general software
package is used for these analyses and as such the computer programmes
developed here are general and complete in themselves. The computer
programmes have been run in the HP - UX 9000/819 work station avail-
able at the Computer Centre of the Institute and the ORIGIN 200 of the
Departmental Computer Laboratory.
The present investigation comprises the following topics:
1. Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates
(a) Static Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates : The static anal-

ysis is carried out for different geometrical plate shapes such
as square, rectangular, skew, annular sector and circular one
1.2 The Objective and Scope of Present Investigation 7
for various boundary and loading conditions and the results

are compared with the published ones.
(b) Free Vibration Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates : The
proposed element is tested by considering the free flexural
vibration analysis of bare plates of various shapes having var-
ious boundary conditions and the first few natural frequencies
are compared with those from open literature.
(c) Stability Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates : In the stabil-
ity analysis, bare plates of rectangular, skew and circular con-
figurations with different boundary and inplane loading con-
ditions are considered and the results are validated by com-
paring the buckling parameters obtained with those available
ones.
2. Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates
(a) Static Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates : A large num-

ber of stiffened plates of straight and curved edges with con-
centric as well as eccentric stiffeners are studied. The results
are presented in terms of stresses/stress resultants. Some new
results are also presented.
(b) Free Vibration Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates :
The first few natural frequencies of a large number of stiff-
ened plates having various planforms are presented. In the
analysis, eccentric as well as concentric stiffeners are con-
sidered and various boundary conditions are implemented.
Some new examples are also attempted.
(c) Stability Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates : Stability
analysis is carried out for rectangular, skew and circular stiff-
8 INTRODUCTION
ened plates with various boundary conditions and buckling

parameters are presented for various flexural and torsional
stiffness of the stiffeners. Few new results have been pre-
sented for this category of analysis.
Hence, in summary, a large number of numerical examples have been

considered in this investigation for static, dynamic and stability analyses
of bare plates and stiffened plates of various geometrical configurations.
Various loading and boundary conditions as well as concentric and eccen-
tric stiffeners are considered in the analysis. In addition to the examples
presented for the validation of the proposed method some new results are
also put forward.
Chapter - 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction
Many exact solutions for thin elastic bare plates for bending and buck-
ling along with a few stiffened plate buckling analysis are well docu-
mented in Timoshenko’s monographs [184] and [185]. Leissa [86] has
presented free vibration analytical results for a number of cases of bare
plates. In the stiffened plate domain the analytical solutions have been
presented by Troitsky [186] for static, dynamic and stability analysis.
However, the analytic solutions in the open literature are incomplete be-
cause they become extremely tedious for complex problem definitions.
The advent of digital computer along with its capability of exponentially
increasing computing speed has made the analytically difficult problems
amenable through the various numerical methods and thus making the
literature rich in this area.
2.2 Review on Bare Plates

In the context of the present investigations, the following areas of analysis
pertaining to the bare plates are covered in the review of literature:
9
10 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1. Static Analysis of Bare Plates
2. Free Vibration Analysis of Bare Plates
3. Stability Analysis of Bare Plates
2.2.1 Static Analysis of Bare Plates

The static analysis of bare plates using the finite element method is well
documented by Zienkiewicz and Taylor in their two volume of books [198]
and [199]. In this review, an attempt has been made to include the more
recent publications.
Sawko and Merriman [165] have proposed a curved element for the
analysis of plates with curved boundaries. They have represented the lat-
eral deflection over the element in terms of polar coordinates and have
considered four degrees of freedom at each node of the element. They
have presented results for circular plates having various boundary condi-
tions under uniform and concentrated loads. They have also analyzed the
simply supported curved bridge deck of Coull and Das [41] and Cheung
et al. [36] and results have been compared.
Chernuka et al. [35] have developed a triangular element in which
one of the edges is modified to a curved one in an effort to minimize
the error inherent in representing the shape of a curved boundary by a
series of straight segments. They have presented two different versions
of the element; one incorporating a quadratic curved edge and the other
a quartic one. They have analyzed circular and elliptical plates under
different loading and boundary conditions.
Mukhopadhyay [124] has studied the bending of skew plates for dif-
ferent skew angles by using semianalytic finite difference method fol-
lowing the philosophy of Kantorovich and the finite strip method. In this
2.2 Review on Bare Plates 11
method, a displacement function satisfying boundary conditions along

two opposite edges of the plate is assumed. The displacement function
is then substituted in the differential equation of the plate, which in turn
is reduced to an ordinary differential equation by some transformation
method. This resulting equation is then solved by the finite difference
method. Isotropic rhombic plates for various skew angles for all edges
simply supported case have been analyzed using this method. Results
have not agreed well for greater skew angles.
Bapu Rao et al. [14] have developed an annular and annular sector
elements associated with six and twenty degrees of freedom respectively
based on Reissener’s thick plate theory which includes the shear defor-
mation. The displacement field, which has been represented by the lat-
eral deflection and shear rotations, has been expressed in terms of inter-
polation polynomial functions of the radial and angular coordinates. In
this proposed method, the sector element can produce satisfactory results
only when the element size is small in the angular direction. Here, the
shear coefficient has been expressed as a free constant. They have also
presented the free vibration results for annular and sector plates.
Mukhopadhyay [126] has extended the semianalytical method for
analyzing bending of radially supported curved plates under different
boundary and loading conditions. He has presented extensive results for
annular sector plates subjected to concentrated and uniformly distributed
load.
Barve and Dey [17] have proposed a method incorporating the con-
cept of isoparametry in finite difference energy method by defining the
plate geometries and the displacement functions in curvilinear coordi-
nate system. They have presented the results for the plates of square,
circular, skew geometries along with the perspex model curved bridge
deck of Coull and Das [41]. Their method can accommodate plates of
various geometrical configurations where somewhat rectangular type of

discretization is possible, it is felt that it will be difficult to model some
of the plate geometries like triangular ones where the triangular shaped
discretization is inevitable.
Yang and Chong [192] have presented an alternative method of fi-
nite strip by replacing the cubic X-spline functions in place of usual
trigonometric series in the y-direction. Using this method they have an-
alyzed square plates having simply supported and fixed boundary con-
ditions subjected to uniformly distributed and concentrated load. They
have also analyzed a trapezoidal plate with simply supported edges un-
der uniformly distributed load.
Bhat [24] has determined the plate deflections under static loading by
generating an orthogonal set of beam characteristic polynomials using the
Gram-Schmidt process and applying the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Results
are presented for rectangular plates with all edges clamped and those with
three edges clamped and one edge free.
Tham et al. [181] have used the spline-finite-strip method to analyze
skew plates with different loading and support conditions. They have
mapped the original parallelogram plate in Cartesian coordinates to a unit
square plate in natural coordinates by a simple transformation relation-
ship and discretized the mapped square plate into strip elements. The
interpolation function for the out of plane displacement in the square re-
gion is expressed as a product of B-3 splines in the strip directions and the
conventional Hermite cubic polynomial is considered in the other direc-
tion. They have presented results for skew plates for various skew angles
under different boundary and loading conditions. They have also ana-
lyzed stepped and continuous plates using this method. They have further
extended this work to include the bending of arbitrarily shaped general
plates [96]. They have analyzed the circular, elliptical, fan-shaped and
circular sector plate along with the parallelogram plate.

Dey and Malhotra [45] have analyzed orthotropic curved bridge decks
using a higher order finite strip method. They have employed a quintic
polynomial in the radial direction along with a basic function series in
the angular direction satisfying the boundary conditions along the radial
edges a priori. Thus, a two dimensional plate bending problem has been
reduced to a one-dimensional one resulting great reduction in size and
bandwidth of the global stiffness matrix. They have presented results for
curve-edged plates using the first five harmonic components and com-
pared them with the available ones.
GangaRao and Chaudhary [53] have developed converging series so-
lutions for rectangular, skew and triangular plate configurations under
different boundary and loading conditions. For the rectangular and the
skew plates they have represented the deformed shape of the structure
by a combination of trigonometric and polynomial functions, the coef-
ficients of which are determined by using Galerkin technique. For the
triangular plate problems they have selected suitable shape functions for
the deformed shape representation. This method is applied to the straight-
edged plate configurations.
Butalia et al. [29] have presented a critical analysis of parallelogram-
shaped plates under bending using Mindlin nine-node Heterosis element.
To make ease of the specification of the boundary conditions, they have
transformed the element matrix corresponding to global axes to the local
ones. They have presented results for rhombic skew plates for differ-
ent skew angles and various boundary conditions and have compared the
results with a large number of published ones.
Peng-Cheng and Hong-Bo [146] have proposed a multivariable spline
element analysis for plate bending problems. They have used bicubic
B-spline functions to construct the bending moments and transverse dis-
placement fields. The spline element equations with multiple variables

have been derived based on Hellinger-Reissner principle. They have pre-
sented square plate results with simply supported and clamped edge con-
ditions subjected to uniformly distributed and concentrated loads.
Liew [97] has presented pb-2 Ritz function to study the static analysis
of arbitrarily shaped plates using the principle of minimum potential en-
ergy. The pb-2 Ritz function consists of the product of a two-dimensional
polynomial function and a basic function. The basic function is again a
product of the specified boundary equations. He has presented the de-
flections and moments of trapezoidal, skew and elliptical plates. Though
the computational effort is less in this method, the process of choosing
an appropriate basic function that changes with the configuration of the
plates as well as the boundary conditions of the edges complicates the
method. The complication is further added as the support conditions are
to be satisfied a priori in the basic function itself.
Au and Cheung [10] have developed isoparametric spline finite strip
method for the analysis of plane structures. They have used cubic B-
spline curves in the modelling of the geometry and the representation of
the displacement field as well. In this method, the plate is first discretized
into strips bounded by spline curves and then Mindlin plate formulation
is used to solve it. The investigators have used this method for bending,
plane stress and plane strain analyses. They have presented results for
a curved bridge model under its dead load, an S-shaped slab bridge un-
der uniformly distributed load and concentrated load, and a thick hollow
cylinder under internal pressure. This method yields a relatively narrow
band matrix and requires less computational effort.
Liu and Lin [102] have proposed a four-noded sixteen degrees of free-
dom conforming quadrilateral plate bending element in which the ele-
ment geometry is in bilinear polynomials representation, while the dis-
placement functions are in terms of modified bicubic polynomials satis-

fying energy orthogonality. In this formulation, the usual approach of ex-
pressing transverse displacements and rotations by separate expansions is
not allowed. They have presented results for square, rhombic and circu-
lar plates. It is reported that though they have obtained improved results
for the deflections and moments at the mid point of the square plates, but
the clamped-edge moments are worse.
Spline element method to analyze the bending of skew plates with
arbitrary boundary conditions has been presented by Mizusawa [113]. In
this method the displacement functions have been expressed in terms of
the two-way B-spline functions. He has used a non-dimensional skew
coordinate system for the analysis. Deflections and bending moments
of rectangular plates and skew plates having various skew angles with
arbitrary boundary conditions have been presented and compared with
the published results.
Ng and Chen [139] have analyzed fan-shaped bridge decks by using
the spline finite strip method and the Mindlin plate theory. They have
used the reduced integration technique to eliminate the shear locking and
utilized the penalty function method to impose boundary condition at the
end of strips and intermediate supports.
Sengupta [169] has developed a three-noded element to study the
bending behaviour of skew rhombic plates of various boundary condi-
tions subjected to uniformly distributed as well as concentrated loads.
The study is limited to the skew plate configuration.
Hamouche et al. [58] have used a spectral solution methodology to
solve the biharmonic equation for analyzing the bending of thin plates
of arbitrary geometric shapes. They have investigated the use of Fourier
and Chebyshev expansions of the dependent variables to eliminate the
mathematical difficulties which arise in the fulfillment of the boundary
conditions. Based on these expansions and the Fast Fourier Transform, a

numerical methodology has been developed to solve plate bending prob-
lems. They have presented solutions for problems of triangular, circular,
annular and truncated circular sector plate configurations having various
boundary conditions.
Ayad et al. [11] have developed two hybrid-mixed finite elements,
MiSP3 (3-node triangular element) and MiSP4 (4-node quadrilateral el-
ement), which require C◦ continuity for kinematic variables and C−1 or
L2 continuity for bending moments and Shear forces following Mixed
Shear Projected (MiSP) approach based on the Hellinger-Reissner vari-
ational principle. In order to control the shear locking they have cho-
sen an independent shear strain approximation and edge projection for
strain-displacement relations. The approximations of the shear forces
have been derived from those of the bending moments using the corre-
sponding equilibrium relations. They have derived the modified MiSP
models (MMiSP) by defining the shear strains as projected shear strains
in place of defining it from a linear approximation of the nodal degrees
of freedom. They have analyzed skew and circular plates in addition to
the rectangular plates.
Saadatpour and Azhari [159] have presented a theoretical formula-
tion for the static analysis of simply supported plates of general shape.
The procedure is based on the Galerkin method and it uses the natural
coordinates to express the plate geometry. They have expressed the dif-
ferential equation of moment function in terms of distributed load and
that of out-of-plane deflection in terms of moment. For the above formed
two equations, they have assumed expanded form of solution in terms
of two types of basic functions (one trigonometric and the other poly-
nomial) and unknown generalized coordinates satisfying the simply sup-
ported straight geometric boundary conditions. The unknown general-
ized coordinates have been determined by the Galerkin method using the
basic functions as the weight functions. They have presented the deflec-
tion and the bending moment results of trapezoidal, parallelogram and
sector plates. Though it has been claimed, the triangular plate results are
not present in the paper. This method is suitable for straight-edged plates
of simply supported boundary conditions. This method requires more
analytical and computational effort for the plates of curved geometry.
2.2.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Bare Plates

The literature in free vibrations of bare plates is vast which is discussed in
a series of excellent review articles by Leissa [86], [88], [89], [90], [91],
[92], [93] and by Yamada and Irie [191]. Extensive free vibration study
of rectangular plates has also been carried out by Gorman [56]. Hence
the review here is limited to those more recent ones and relevant to the
present investigation.
Orris and Petyt [142] have used two conforming plate bending ele-
ments, one a quadrilateral and the other a triangular, and investigated the
free vibration characteristics of triangular and trapezoidal plates. They
have obtained the quadrilateral element by combination of the cubic de-
flection fields in each of the four triangular regions defined by the edges
of the quadrilateral and its diagonal. The deflection fields have been ex-
pressed in terms of the area coordinates of the triangular regions. They
have presented free vibration results of rectangular, triangular and trape-
zoidal plates by varying the ratio of top to bottom parallel chords of the
trapezoidal plate. The mode shapes and natural frequencies for trape-
zoidal plates with height to base ratios of 6:1 typifying the dimensions of
control surface ribs have also been presented. However, the elements are
not designed to accommodate the plates with curved boundaries.
Mizusawa et al. [116] have dealt with the free vibration of skew plates
for various boundary conditions using the Rayleigh-Ritz method with
B-spline functions as its coordinate functions. They have applied the
method of artificial springs to deal with the arbitrary boundary condi-
tions of the plates corresponding to deflection and the two slopes at each
of the edges. By assigning zero or infinite values to these spring con-
stants they have obtained free or fixed boundary conditions for the corre-
sponding restraint. They have also studied the convergence of the results
with respect to changes in the degree of the B-spline functions and in the
number of knots, for different skew angles. They have obtained the total
potential energy by adding the energy due to the springs corresponding
to boundary conditions, to that of the skew plate.
Leissa and Narita [94] have presented the free vibration natural fre-
quencies of simply supported circular plates for different values of Pois-
son’s ratio and number of internal nodal circles using the ordinary and
modified Bessel functions. They have considered the deflected shape of
the vibrating plate in polar coordinates and have derived the relationship
to obtain additional values of frequency parameters for large number of
internal nodal circles.
Maruyama and Ichinomiya [105] have described an experimental study
of the low frequency transverse vibration modes of wedge-shaped and
ring-shaped sector plates with all edges clamped which are carried out
by using the real time method of holographic interferometry. They have
studied the effects of the sector angle and the radii ratio on the natural fre-
quencies and the corresponding mode shapes of the sector plates with all
edges clamped and have compared their experimental results with those
of analytically obtained ones by the other investigators.
Bhat [23] has investigated the vibration problem of rectangular plates
by using a set of characteristic orthogonal polynomials in the Rayleigh-
Ritz method. The orthogonal polynomials have been generated by using

Gram-Schmidt process so as to satisfy the geometric boundary conditions
of the accompanying beam problems. He has presented vibration results
for rectangular plates of different boundary conditions.
Laura et al. [84] have analyzed transverse vibrations of a trapezoidal
cantilever plate of variable thickness using energy techniques. They have
described the structural deflections by characteristics orthogonal poly-
nomials in two variables and have applied the Rayleigh-Ritz method to
obtain the natural frequencies. They have presented the frequency param-
eters for cantilever trapezoidal plates for different aspect ratios and have
compared them with the results obtained by using the Rayleigh method
with an optimized exponent in the deflection expression.
Kim and Dickinson [78] have determined the free flexural vibrations
of a large number of right triangular plates for various combination of
free, simply supported or clamped boundary conditions by carrying out
the Rayleigh-Ritz analysis. They have used simple polynomials as the
admissible functions, which, through the use of a recurrence relationship
for the evaluation of the necessary integrals, lead to a simpler analysis.
Though the analysis presented is for specifically orthotropic plates, but
the majority of the numerical examples presented are for the isotropic
case of the right triangular plates.
Liew et al. [100] have extended the Gram-Schmidt procedure of Bhat [23]
and have studied the plate vibration by Rayleigh-Ritz method. Their se-
lection of the starting function in the set of orthogonal plate functions is
same as that of Bhat, but the higher terms are generated using a procedure
leading to faster convergence. They have presented frequency parameter
results for different boundary conditions of the rectangular plates.
Lam et al. [82] have proposed an approximate method based on the
Rayleigh-Ritz principle for vibration analysis of circular and elliptical
plates. A set of new starting functions has been proposed which satisfies
the geometrical boundary conditions of circular and elliptical plates with
clamped, simply supported or free circumferential peripheries. Further,
the Gram-Schmidt process has been used to generate the higher terms in
the set of plate functions. The use of these functions for the determination
of natural frequencies and mode shapes has been presented. They have
analyzed circular and elliptical plates for free, simply supported or fully
clamped boundary conditions.
Prasad et al. [149] have presented approximate formulae for the free
vibration of simply supported and clamped elliptical plates. They have
used the Rayleigh-Ritz method with a three-term deflection function. In
this method a deflection has to be chosen satisfying each boundary con-
dition which makes the analysis difficult.
Young and Dickinson [194] have used the Rayleigh-Ritz method for
the free vibrations study of the plates having one or more edges defined
by general polynomials, the admissible functions employed being prod-
ucts of simple polynomials. They have presented the free vibration re-
sults for the isotropic as well as rectangularly orthotropic plates and con-
sidered various plate geometries such as circular, elliptical, annular and
hypocycloidal. However, the incorporation of the boundary conditions is
somewhat complex and imposes the restrictions on the choice of deflec-
tion function.
Ding [46] has proposed the use of a fast converging series consisting
of static beam functions under point load as admissible functions in the
Rayleigh-Ritz method to study the problem of the flexural vibration of
rectangular plates. The admissible sets of displacement functions have
been obtained by varying the location of the point load applied to the
beam. Numerical examples of rectangular plates with various aspect ra-
tios and boundary conditions have been presented. In this method, the
boundary conditions of the plate dictate the type of admissible function

to be selected.
Mirza and Alizadeh [111] have idealized a cracked plate as a partially
supported one with varying support length and analyzed the triangular
plates for free vibration using eight-noded isoparametric quadrilateral el-
ement based on Mindlin plate theory. They have studied the effects of
the detached base length on vibration of these types of structures. They
have attempted to eliminate the transverse shear effects in thin plates by
employing a reduced Gaussian integration. However, it is well known
that these types of integration schemes lead to numerical complexities
and spurious mechanisms. Though the isoparametric element is capable
of addressing some non-conventional plate geometries, the authors have
presented only the triangular plate results.
Singh and Chakraverty [177] have analyzed rectangular and skew
plates for free vibration under different boundary conditions by using
boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials in two variables. They
have first mapped the given plate into a square plate over which a set
of orthogonal polynomials satisfying the essential boundary conditions
is generated by using the Gram-Schmidt process. The Rayleigh-Ritz
method is then used to determine the frequencies for all possible combi-
nations of the boundary conditions and with different skew angles. This
is the extension of their previous work [176] where they have applied
the same method for studying the free vibration of annular circular and
elliptic plates. In another publication [175] they have presented results
for vibration of simply supported elliptical and circular plates using the
same method. Though the method in all the works is same but they differ
considerably when the orthogonal polynomials are generated for differ-
ent plate shapes. Hence it needs the reformulation of the problem for
each category of plates thereby lacking in its generality.
Geannakakes [54] has presented a theoretical formulation for the free

vibration analysis of bare plates of various shapes using natural coor-
dinate regions for defining the plate geometry in conjunction with nor-
malized characteristic orthogonal polynomials for defining the deflection
function and the Rayleigh-Ritz method to set up the eigenproblem. How-
ever, he used five different kinds of shape functions for the definition of
the plate geometry for five different regions; namely, the linear region,
the cubic region, the incomplete and complete quartic regions and the
quartic-linear region depending on the complexity of the plate boundary
definition. Thus the method adopts different definitions for different plate
geometries and thereby incurs loss in generality. Moreover, the numeri-
cal results obtained by this method depends on the number of integration
points and normalized characteristic orthogonal polynomials in each di-
rection. In the analysis the accuracy of the results was improved when
the number of integration points was increased. However, too many in-
tegration points (11 number of points in his analysis) tend to degrade the
accuracy of the computed integral results.
Saliba [161] has proposed a superposition technique for the solution

of free vibration problems of right triangular thin plates. He has modified
the six building block arrangement introduced by Gorman [57]. In his
modified version Saliba has used only two building blocks instead of six.
He has obtained the superposition of these blocks by first determining the
contributions of each individual building block to the relevant boundary
conditions and, second, due to the linear nature of the individual building
block problems, their total contribution to a given boundary condition has
been found by adding together their individual contributions. The Levy-
type solutions have been proposed where the support conditions can be
forced by adjusting the Fourier coefficients. Numerical results and mode
shapes for right-angled triangular plates with all possible combinations
of simple and clamped boundary conditions have been presented. Great

precaution is to be exercised while applying the method even for other
general straight boundary problems like general triangles, trapezoidal and
parallelogram plates.
Ghazi et al. [55] have used the Lagrange’s equations of motion cou-
pled with the finite element technique and analyzed the free vibration of
plates of pentagonal and heptagonal shapes. First, they have proposed an
18 degrees of freedom triangular plate bending element without consider-
ing the transverse shear effect and have presented results for isotropic as
well as orthotropic plates for various edge conditions. In the second part,
considering the transverse shear effect, they have formulated a higher or-
der 36 degrees of freedom finite element and results for some complex
combinations of rigidly clamped, simply supported and free edge condi-
tions for isotropic, orthotropic and laminated plates have been presented.
Houmat [65] has presented a method known as trigonometric hierar-
chical finite element method after Bardell [16] for the free flexural vi-
bration analysis of bare plates which is formulated in terms of a fixed
number of quintic polynomial shape functions plus a variable number of
trigonometric hierarchical shape functions. In this method a structure is
modelled as just one finite element and the number of hierarchical terms
is varied to obtain the results to a desired degree of accuracy. Here the
satisfaction of internal C ◦ and/or C1 continuity along element interfaces
is avoided and the problems of stress singularities are overcome. Results
are presented for the square and rectangular plates with different bound-
ary conditions. This method because of its simplicity can only be applied
to simple and uniform structures.
Radhakrishnan et al. [151] have developed an approximate method to
estimate the fundamental frequency of a plate through the finite element
solution of its static deflections under a uniformly distributed load using
a frequency-static deflection relation without the associated eigenvalue

problem. Since a four-noded quadrilateral isoparametric plate element
has been chosen for the static deflection of the plate, they have been able
to present results for rectangular and circular plates having holes at the
centre. This method is useful to assess the approximate natural frequen-
cies of plates of arbitrary shape. However, the obvious problem of shear
locking associated with the isoparametric elements used for the static
analysis of thin plates in this method has not been discussed.
2.2.3 Stability Analysis of Bare Plates

Kapur and Hartz [76] have derived the stability coefficient matrices for
plates under different loading conditions for use with the stiffness ma-
trix following Bolotin [26]. These stability coefficient matrices allow the
modification of the conventional plate stiffness matrices to include the
effect of the in-plane stresses. They have applied this method for rectan-
gular plates under different in-plane loadings.
Durvasula [48] has used the Rayleigh-Ritz method with deflection
expressed in double Fourier sine series in oblique coordinates to study
the stability of the simply supported skew plates under uniform system
of inplane stresses which have been represented in terms of orthogonal
components. Buckling coefficients for simply supported skew plates of
various aspect ratios having varying skew angles have been presented.
This method limits its application to the rectangular and the skew plate
geometries.
Fried and Schmitt [52] have applied the gradient iterative techniques
to refine the finite element mesh at the obtuse corner of the skew plate
where stress singularity occurs, thus regaining the full rate of conver-
gence of the finite element vibration and stability results of skew plate
configurations. They have considered a general skew element having

four nodal points, each associated with four degrees of freedom and have
considered pure boundary conditions such as free on all sides. Free vibra-
tion results for equilateral plates having various skew angles and buckling
results for plates of different aspect ratios along with various skew angles
under compression and shear have been presented.
Prabhu and Durvasula [148] have considered the buckling problems
of clamped skew plates using oblique components of stress for oblique
geometry of the plate. They have expressed the deflection as a dou-
ble series of beam characteristic functions of a clamped-clamped beam
and have used energy method to obtain the critical buckling coefficients.
They have also made the convergence study under both direct and shear
loadings and have found that at least 18-term solution for the skew angle
up to 30◦ and 32-term solution for the skew angle up to 60◦ are required
for the fairly converged estimates of the buckling coefficients. They have
presented buckling coefficients for plates subject to inplane direct and
shear loadings for several combination of side ratios and skew angles.
Reddy and Tsay [155] have formulated a mixed rectangular element
having three degrees of freedom per node: the transverse deflection, and
the two normal moments for analyzing bare plates. They have presented
free vibration and stability results of square and rectangular plates. They
have also analyzed plates with uniform uniaxial compression for free vi-
bration. An attempt to derive non-rectangular elements to accommodate
the plates of general shape in this method is mathematically more in-
volved and hence it is confined to the square and rectangular plate con-
figurations.
Rubin [158] has presented an analytical method to obtain critical
loads and buckling mode shapes for polar-orthotropic sector plate with
radial edges simply supported and having arbitrary boundary conditions
along the circular edges. He has expressed the differential equations of

the plates in terms of polar coordinates. The method can be applied to
the buckling analysis of plates of pie-shaped and ring-shaped sectors of
orthotropic as well as isotropic ones.
Mukhopadhyay [128] has extended the static [127] and vibration [125]
analysis of plates to analyze the stability of ship plating and allied plated
structures using the semi-analytical method. He has presented results for
various edge conditions of the rectangular plates and different inplane
loading combinations.
Mizusawa et al. [117] have presented the bending, vibration and buck-
ling analyses of skew plates by using the modified Rayleigh-Ritz method
using B-spline functions with Lagrange multipliers to deal with both ge-
ometric and natural boundary conditions. They have presented bending,
vibration and buckling results for various skew angles and boundary con-
ditions of the skew plates.
Mizusawa and Kajita [114] have dealt with vibration and buckling
analyses of skew plates with edges elastically restrained against rotation.
They have used the spline strip method where the skew plate has been
idealized by discrete strip elements. In this method, the displacement
function is expressed by the product of basic function series in the lon-
gitudinal direction satisfying the boundary conditions at the ends and the
B-spline functions known as piecewise polynomials whose higher deriva-
tives are continuous in the discretized subregions. They have studied the
effect of rotational stiffnesses, skew angles and aspect ratios on the vibra-
tion and buckling of skew plates and have presented characteristic charts
for them.
Liu and Chen [103] have extended the work of Harik [59] on stabil-
ity of annular plates by incorporating the elastically restrained boundary
conditions and by considering both radial and tangential in-plane stresses
using the semianalytic technique. In this method, the governing differen-

tial equation for the deflection is expressed in polar coordinates and its
solution is assumed as the product of a radial function and a beam func-
tion corresponding to identical elastically restrained boundary conditions
at the ends.
Mukhopadhyay [130] has presented a numerical method in which two
characteristic functions satisfying the boundary conditions along the op-
posite edges are assumed and then the displacement function is substi-
tuted into the differential equation of the plate for free vibration and buck-
ling which in turn is converted into an eigenvalue problem through some
transformations. Rectangular uniform isotropic plates of various aspect
ratios having varying degrees of rotational restraints along the edges have
been analyzed using various number of total harmonic terms in each di-
rection. Frequency and buckling parameters have been presented for
various boundary conditions which include the classical as well as the
elastically restrained in rotation and have been compared with the results
obtained by the semi-analytic finite difference method.
Mermertas and Belek [109] have developed a sector finite element
model with the wave propagation technique of cyclic symmetry to study
the static and dynamic stability of annular plates of variable thickness.
They have used the Mindlin plate finite element in conjunction with
Bolotin’s approach, with an isoparametric sector element. The effects
of thickness, various boundary conditions and loading have been investi-
gated.
Tham and Szeto [182] have applied the spline finite strip method to
the buckling analysis of arbitrarily shaped plates by the subparametric
transformation of the plates into the natural coordinate plane and express-
ing the displacements of the strip in terms of natural coordinate variables.
The displacements of each strip are described by interpolation functions
which are the products of piecewise polynomials and B-3 spline func-
tions. The formulated eigenvalue matrix equation for the buckling anal-
ysis has been solved following the procedure of standard finite element
method. They have presented the first and second buckling load factors
for the rectangular, parallelogrammic, triangular, circular and elliptical
plate configurations.
Singh and Venkateswara Rao [178] have presented design formulae
for the fundamental frequencies and critical buckling loads estimation of
elliptical plates for simply supported and clamped edges. Cortinez and
Laura [40] have proposed simple approximate formulae for a quick and
sufficiently accurate estimate of the fundamental frequencies and critical
loads of clamped plates by simplifying the conformal mapping method.
They have determined the fundamental frequencies and critical buckling
loads of regular polygonal plates, circular plate with two flat sides and a
square plate having rounded corners. This method can be applied to the
plate having clamped edges only.
Wang et al. [188] have used the pb-2 Rayleigh-Ritz method proposed
by Liew and Lam [98] and have analyzed the buckling of skew plates.
In this method, the Ritz functions consist of the product of a basic func-
tion and orthogonal polynomials, the degree of which may be increased
until the desired accuracy is reached. The basic function is formed by
taking the product of the equations expressing the boundary shape, with
each equation having the power of either 0, 1, or 2 corresponding to free,
simply supported, or clamped supporting edges respectively. As such,
the kinematic boundary conditions are automatically satisfied at the out-
set without using Lagrangian multipliers. This form of Ritz function has
an advantage over the trigonometric series, as the analyst need not search
for the appropriate trigonometric series because the boundary expressions
are already given. Using this method they have presented buckling results
for skew plates of various boundary conditions.

Jønsson et al. [72] have derived a hybrid displacement four-noded
rectangular plate element where the potential energy is modified by adding
Lagrange multiplier terms and thereby introducing independent field pa-
rameters. The boundary displacements and internal displacements have
been interpolated by the nodal parameters, while the curvatures and mo-
ments by locally condensed internal parameters. They have presented re-
sults for bending and stability of rectangular plates with various boundary
and loading conditions.
Zhang and Krätzig [196] have presented a four-noded rectangular
element of the Mindlin displacement model for thin plate bending and
buckling analysis. The element properties have been derived using dis-
crete Kirchhoff constraint according to an eight-node interpolatory pat-
tern specified to consist of bilinear Lagrangian and Serendipity bubble
functions. To satisfy the real Kirchhoff conditions in the thin plate limit, a
different discrete Kirchhoff constraint has been proposed. The element’s
bending behaviour has been shown only by a single element test. Buck-
ling analysis of square and rectangular plates have been presented.
Zhou et al. [197] have presented a semianalytical-seminumerical method
of solution for the buckling problem of simply supported annular sector
plates subjected to inplane pressure along the straight-edges. They have
first generated the analytical solution for the pre-buckling inplane stresses
of the plates based on the elastic theory of the plane-stress problem and
then used a seminumerical technique to obtain the critical buckling load.
The basic functions in the angular direction are chosen as the eigenfunc-
tions for the simply supported beam and the resulting ordinary differen-
tial equation is solved by a one-dimensional finite difference technique.
Wanji and Cheung [189] have proposed a refined triangular discrete
Kirchhoff thin plate bending element by improving the original DKT el-
∂θx ∂θy
ement. They have imposed a relaxed continuity condition of =
∂y ∂x
in the element, but satisfying in the strict sense the C1 continuity re-
quirement on the element boundary. They have proposed formulation of
the mass matrix and the geometric stiffness matrix by linear combina-
tion of the interpolations of the element displacement functions. They
have presented a clamped circular plate example for the bending analysis
and simply supported as well as clamped square plates for vibration and
buckling analyses.
Yuan and Jin [195] have employed the multi-term trial functions in
place of earlier used single-term trial function to the extended Kantorovich
method for the eigenvalue solution of elastic stability of rectangular thin
plates subjected to different inplane forces and boundary conditions. They
have derived the ordinary differential equations and the boundary condi-
tions through the associated variational principle reducing the problem
to a linear eigenvalue problem in ordinary differential equations in each
iteration step, which in turn has been solved using general-purpose or-
dinary differential equation solvers. They have presented a number of
numerical examples of rectangular plates.
2.3 Various Methods of Analysis of Stiff-

ened Plates
For many years the research on stiffened plated structures has been a
subject of interest. Extensive efforts by many researchers have been put
into the investigation of the response of the stiffened plates under various
loading conditions. Due to its complexity and the number of parameters
involved being many, a complete understanding of all aspects of its be-
haviour is yet to be fully realized. In order to facilitate a solution to the
2.3 Various Methods of Analysis of Stiffened Plates 31
problem the researchers have made several assumptions leading to the

various methods of analysis.
A simplified approach for the analysis of stiffened plates has been
proposed by Huber [68] which is known as orthotropic plate theory. The
philosophy of the method is to convert the stiffened plate into an equiv-
alent plate with constant thickness by smearing out the stiffeners. If the
stiffeners are closely spaced then only this model is justified. When the
stiffeners are not identical in both directions or not equally spaced the
resulting thickness becomes non-uniform and the analysis becomes com-
plex.
Another model known as grillage model has been proposed by some
investigators. In this model the stiffened plate is considered as a plane
structure containing intersecting beams and carrying a lateral load through
the action of beam bending. The centroidal planes of the beams in the
two orthogonal directions are assumed to be same which affects the ac-
curacy in the stress computation. The beam properties are determined
considering the effective width of the plate, calculation of which is math-
ematically involved. It is not popular because of the drawbacks inherent
in the methodology.
The advent of the digital computer along with its exponentially in-
creasing computational speed as well as core memory capacity has given
the investigators a new direction to the analysis of the complicated struc-
tures thereby evolving simpler and more efficient methodologies. Among
these, the various numerical methods are:
• Finite difference method
• Dynamic relaxation method
• Finite element method

• Finite strip method
• Boundary element method
Among all the existing numerical methods, the finite element method
is undoubtedly the most versatile and accurate one specially for structures
having irregular geometry, material anisotropy, nonhomogeniety and any
type of loading and boundary conditions.
2.4 Review on Stiffened Plates

The vast amount of literature available in the area of stiffened plates
is rich in contributions by the researchers and scientists from diverse
fields. Many investigators have studied the static, dynamic and stability
behaviour of the stiffened plates and the developments of them up to mid-
eighties are well documented in [186],[132],[162], [164],[121],[122],[172]
and [134]. Troitsky [186] has extensively reviewed the literature per-
taining to rectangular stiffened plates for static, dynamic and stability
analyses which are based on orthotropic plate idealization. Different
methods of analysis and idealization techniques employed in the static
analysis of stiffened plates have been reviewed by Satsangi [162] and
Satsangi and Mukhopadhyay [164]. An extensive review on static, dy-
namic and stability analyses of bare and stiffened plates has been pre-
sented by Mukhopadhyay [132]. The dynamic behaviour of stiffened
plates comprising free, transient and random vibration analyses has been
reviewed by Mukherjee [121] and Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122].
Mukhopadhyay and Mukherjee [134] have further extended their earlier
review to include the later developments on dynamic characteristics of
the stiffened plates. In the present investigation an attempt has been made
2.4 Review on Stiffened Plates 33
to supplement the earlier reviews on stiffened plates and in the context of

the present work they are limited to the following areas of analysis:
1. Static Analysis of Stiffened Plates
2. Free Vibration Analysis of Stiffened Plates
3. Stability Analysis of Stiffened Plates
2.4.1 Static Analysis of Stiffened Plates

Mukhopadhyay and Satsangi [136] have formulated an isoparametric stiff-
ened plate bending element following an approach where the stiffener
can be placed anywhere inside the element. This has added a distinct im-
provement over the earlier lumped stiffener and orthotropic plate models
for the stiffened plate analysis. Though this model is capable of accom-
modating various plate geometries, they have analyzed only rectangular
plates with various stiffener shape and position along both the directions.
They have also presented a scheme for obtaining stiffener stresses for the
lumped model.
O’Leary and Harari [140] have proposed a finite element method in
which the constraint between stiffener and the member is imposed by
means of Lagrange multipliers. This imposition has been performed at
the functional level, forming augmented variational principles. In order
to simplify the initial development and implementation of the proposed
method, two-dimensional stiffened beam finite elements are developed.
They have conducted numerical tests on several such elements and ob-
tained monotonic convergence. In the development of stiffened plate fi-
nite elements, they have treated the bending and membrane behaviours
separately. The stiffness matrix of a standard plate element has been
modified to account for an added beam element and additional terms im-
posing the constant between the two. They have presented results for the
deflection of the centre of the stiffened plate and have compared with the
series solution of Timoshenko and Krieger [185].
Al-Shawi and Mardirosian [4] have proposed an improved dynamic
relaxation method for the analysis of cantilever plates stiffened with edge
beams. The plate skin is modelled using an improved rectangular plate
bending element and the edge stiffener is modelled using the grillage
beam element. Different weighting parameters are multiplied with the
mass and damping factor of the structure, the optimum values of which
are obtained for different cantilever plates with edge stiffeners of different
sizes. The method is applicable to the rectangular plates only and the
stiffeners should lie on the nodal lines. The inplane displacements due to
the eccentricity of the stiffeners are not considered in the analysis.
Harik and Haddad [61] and Harik and Salamoun [62] have applied the
analytical strip method to the analysis of stiffened plates having annular
sector and rectangular planforms respectively, modelling the plate and
the stiffener separately. The bending, torsional and warping rigidities of
the stiffener have been considered in the formulation, but the inplane dis-
placements produced by the eccentricity of the stiffeners have not been
considered. The behaviour of the system is derived by imposing the edge
and continuity conditions on the closed form solutions of the individual
plate strips and beam elements. In this approach the stiffener and the line
loads along the strip must follow the nodal lines which imposes restric-
tions on the mesh division.
Petrolito and Golley [147] have proposed a variable degree of free-
dom macro plate bending element where the displacement function within
an element satisfies the governing thin plate equations, substantially re-
ducing the number of equations to be solved. In this method, large ele-
ments corresponding to structural units bounded by beams may be used

resulting in a minimum of data preparation. Additionally, a modified
version of the ACM element with conforming displacements is shown to
be a sub-element of the proposed element. Though the number of total
equations generated in this method is small, it cannot be generalized for
plates other than the rectangular ones and it demands the placement of
the stiffeners to lie along the nodal lines.
Bhimaraddi et al. [25] have presented the finite element static and
free vibration analysis of an orthogonally stiffened annular sector plate
by combining annular sector plate and curved beam elements. They have
incorporated the shear deformation and the rotary inertia in both of the
elements. Additionally, both the elements are based on higher order the-
ories to include the analysis of arbitrarily laminated structures. How-
ever, the formulation imposes restrictions when applied to the arbitrarily
shaped structures since it is based on the polar coordinate system.
Chong [38] has used the principle of minimum potential energy for
the analysis of stiffened plates with arbitrarily oblique and equally spaced
eccentric stiffeners which are smeared over the entire plate. The equiva-
lent rigidities for orthogonally and symmetrically oblique stiffened plates,
which are used in the Huber-type equilibrium equations are determined
by assuming that the gradients of the inplane stress resultants are zero.
The placement of the stiffeners along any arbitrarily oblique direction is
the major improvement in this technique. The other limitations of the or-
thotropic plate idealization such as the stiffeners should be light, identical
and closely spaced are still present in the formulation.
Basak [18] has presented an analytical method for the static and dy-
namic analyses of rectangular orthotropic plate with irregularly spaced
stiffened ribs, simply supported at its four edges and subjected to dis-
tributed lateral load having triangular load variation. The integral ac-
tion of the plate and the stiffeners is included in the modified differential
equation through Dirac delta function and the Heaviside lambda function.
Being an analytical method, the computational involvement is less.
Chan et al. [31] have proposed an exact solution procedure using the
U-transformation method for the static analysis of stiffened plates. In
this approach, only the rectangular plates with stiffeners concentrically
and periodically placed can be analyzed. Based on the energy principle,
Kukreti and Cheraghi [81] have proposed a method for the analysis of
a stiffened plate system consisting of a plate supported on a network of
steel girders. The deflection function is considered as a product of a
polynomial and a trigonometric series. The method is applied to stiffened
plates of rectangular configurations for various loading conditions and
results are compared with those obtained by the finite element method.
A semianalytical method has been proposed by Mukhopadhyay [133]
for bending analysis of stiffened plates. In this method a displacement
function satisfying the boundary conditions along two opposite edges is
assumed. This displacement function is then substituted in the differ-
ential equation of the plate which in turn is reduced to an ordinary dif-
ferential equation having constant coefficients by some transformations.
He has presented results for rectangular stiffened plates having a vary-
ing number of location of stiffeners and possessing different boundary
conditions and loadings.
2.4.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Stiffened Plates

Aksu [2] has used variational principle in conjunction with the finite dif-
ference method for the analysis of free vibration of stiffened plates where
the strain energy expressions for the plate and the stiffeners have been
developed which is reduced to an eigenvalue problem through the use of
energy principles. He has analyzed the cross-stiffened plates neglecting

the inplane inertia and inplane displacement. He has further extended his
work [3] considering the inplane inertia and inplane displacement in both
directions and has studied the effects of these inclusion for unidirection-
ally and cross-stiffened plates.
Ramakrishnan and Kunukkasseril [152] have presented an analyti-
cal method in which the deck is considered as a combination of annular
sector plates and circular ring segments. They have formulated the fre-
quency equations by matching the continuity condition at the junction of
the plate and the ring segments after obtaining the close-form solution for
both of them and have compared the results with the experimental ones.
Shastry and Venkateswara Rao [170] have studied the free vibration
of plates with arbitrarily oriented stiffeners using the triangular plate
bending element of Cowper et al. [42] in conjunction with a stiffener
element developed by Shastry et al. [171]. The formulation incorporates
the arbitrary orientation of the stiffeners. They have presented results for
rectangular stiffened plates.
Bapu Rao et al. [15] have reported their work on experimentally deter-
mined frequencies with real-time holographic interferometric techniques
for skew stiffened cantilever plates. These experimental results have been
verified by the analytical results obtained using three-noded plate element
with three-degrees of freedom per node along with the compatible beam
element. They have neglected the inplane displacements and inertia in
their theoretical formulation.
Bhandari et al. [21] have computed the natural frequencies of rectan-
gular and skew stiffened plates using the energy method and Lagrange’s
equation. The effect of torsion of the stiffener has been ignored in the
analysis. As they have used an oblique coordinate system, the applica-
tion is limited to the skew plates.
Mizusawa et al. [115] have studied the effect of the arrangement of

stiffening beams, skew angles and stiffness parameters on the vibration
characteristics of the skew stiffened plates by using the Rayleigh-Ritz
method with B-spline functions as the coordinate functions. To accom-
modate the skew plate shape they have used the skew coordinate system.
Eishakoff et al. [50] have analyzed a finite row of skin stringer panels
using modified Bolotin method for dynamic behaviour. All panels and
interior stringers have been assumed to be identical. The natural frequen-
cies for a five bay all edges clamped panel have been presented. This
method demands that the stiffeners should be equally spaced and they
should be of equal size.
Bhat [22] has studied the effect of the spacing of stiffeners on the nat-
ural frequencies of the plate using the Rayleigh-Ritz method and equa-
tions of optimization technique. He has presented only a square stiffened
plate results in his analysis.
Irie et al. [69] have analyzed free vibration of trapezoidal cantilever
stiffened plate by using a continuous coordinate transformation of an ar-
bitrarily shaped plate to a square one of unit length. They have used
deflection function of a cantilever and free beam in conjunction with the
approximate mode shape to model the stiffened plate. The natural fre-
quencies of the stiffened and the unstiffened cantilever trapezoidal plates
have been presented by them using the Ritz method which develops the
assumed deflected shapes satisfactorily with different functions. How-
ever, the requirement of choosing the deflected shape limits the general-
ization of this method.
Balendra and Shanmugam [12] have applied the grillage method to
rib stiffened plates of cellular construction. A matrix approach has been
adopted to solve for the free vibration problems. Comparison of theo-
retical results with experimental ones has been presented [13]. However,
the grillage approximation approach has not become very popular for dy-
namic analysis of stiffened plates.
Srinivasan and Thiruvenkatachari [180] have applied the concept of
spreading the properties of the stiffeners over the area of the plate and
have solved the problem of curved eccentrically stiffened plates with tor-
sionally soft stiffener using the integral equation technique. This method
has been applied to the all edges clamped annular sector plates with ec-
centric stiffeners for static and vibration analysis.
Plates reinforced with regular orthogonal array of uniform beams
have been analyzed by Mead et al. [107] using a method developed for
the study of wave propagation in two dimensional periodic structures. A
motion of plane wave type characterized by different propagation phase
constants in both the directions is considered. The governing equations of
free wave motion are set up using the hierarchical finite element method
and they are solved as an eigenvalue problem for the frequencies at which
particular waves will propagate. Though a large structure can be analyzed
by this method with minimal effort, but the application is limited to the
periodic structures only.
Mukhopadhyay [131] has applied the semi-analytic finite difference
method to the vibration and stability analysis of rectangular stiffened
plates based on the plate beam idealization. The displacement func-
tions satisfying the boundary conditions along the two opposite edges
are substituted in the governing equations and they are reduced to or-
dinary differential equations by suitable transformations. Though the
method has attractive features from the economic point of view, it has
all the drawbacks inherent in the semi-analytic finite difference method.
In this method, a separate formulation is needed for each different struc-
tural configuration. It is difficult to handle complex boundary conditions,
concentrated load application and similar other situations.
Using the Rayleigh-Ritz method Michimoto and Zubaydi [110] have

analyzed the free vibration of trapezoidal stiffened plates applying a tech-
nique of mapping the plate into a rectangular domain and evaluating the
plate skin energy on the basis of the mapped domain imparting the nec-
essary transformations. The placement of the stiffeners are parallel and
perpendicular to the two parallel sides of the trapezoidal plate which are
treated with respect to their actual configurations. Though this approach
has extended the application of the Rayleigh-Ritz method from the con-
ventional rectangular to trapezoidal plate shapes, the stiffener placement
restrictions along the orthogonal directions still persist. Some of the theo-
retical results have been verified with the experimental ones and a method
to determine the dimensions of a rectangular stiffened plate whose natu-
ral frequencies are equal to the trapezoidal one has been proposed.
Seinosuke and Aritomi [168] have studied the free vibration of stiff-
ened plates with a small initial curvature. They have used the Galerkin
method combined with the multiple mode approximation and verified the
natural frequency and mode shape results with those obtained experimen-
tally using laser holography. The formulation is applicable to rectangular
plate configurations and the stiffeners must lie parallel to either of the
edges.
Mizusawa [112] has used the spline finite element method to study
the free vibration analysis of stiffened annular sector plates having ar-
bitrary boundary conditions. The structure is idealized as a system of
annular sector plate and curved beams rigidly connected to each other.
The formulation is based on the lateral displacement only and the inplane
displacements due to the eccentricity of the stiffeners are not considered.
The bending and torsional effects are incorporated in the stiffener formu-
lation. The formulation is based on the polar coordinate system.
Koko and Olson [80] have applied the plate beam idealization tech-
nique to the finite element method for analyzing the free vibration of
stiffened plates using a super element which consists of a macro element
having analytical as well as the usual finite element shape functions. The
lateral and inplane effects as well as the beam torsion and its horizontal
bending have been incorporated in the formulation. The method limits
its application to the rectangular plate configurations and the stiffeners
placement demands that they should be placed on the nodal lines.
Palani et al [143] have studied the performance of an eight-noded and
an nine-noded isoparametric finite element models for static and vibra-
tion analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates/shells. They have derived
the models by combining serendipity or Lagrangian plate/shell elements
with the three-noded isoparametric beam element employing suitable
transformations for the eccentricity of the stiffeners. Numerical studies
have been made for the concentrically and eccentrically stiffened plates
using four mass lumping schemes. Though they have used the isopara-
metric elements which is capable to model the arbitrary shape of a plate,
they have not addressed any such plate configurations other than the rect-
angular ones. Moreover, their formulation demands the placement of the
stiffeners along the element boundaries of the plates/shells. However, in
another publication [144] they have extended their formulation to accom-
modate the arbitrary placement of the stiffeners and the application areas
to the skew and annular stiffened plates. They have considered the nine-
noded element to be superior to the eight-noded one which locks in shear
for thin plates.
Harik and Guo [60] have developed a compound finite element model
to investigate the eccentrically stiffened plates in free vibration where
they have treated the beam and the plate elements as integral parts of
a compound section, and not as independent bending components. In
their formulation, the neutral surface may not coincide in the orthogo-
nally stiffened directions of the compound section. They have presented

results for orthogonally stiffened rectangular plates.
Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] applied the spline finite strip method
to the free vibration analysis of stiffened plates of arbitrary shapes. In
their formulation, the stiffeners can be placed anywhere within the plate
strip, and need not be placed along the nodal lines. They analyzed the
plates of rectangular, skew and annular shapes with concentric as well as
eccentric stiffeners.
Chen et al. [33] have presented a spline compound strip method for
the free vibration analysis of stiffened plates in which the plate has been
discretized and modelled as strip elements. The displacement function
of the strip element has been expressed as the product of the conven-
tional transverse shape functions and longitudinal cubic B-splines. The
flexural, torsional and axial effects of the stiffeners in the formulation
have been incorporated. The analysts have presented vibration results for
one-directional and cross-stiffened rectangular plates.
Holopainen [64] has proposed a finite element model for free vibra-
tion analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates. The formulation allows the
placement of any number of arbitrarily oriented stiffeners within a plate
element. He has modelled the behaviour of the plating by employing a
plate bending element consistent with the Reissner-Mindlin thick plate
theory and the stiffener element formulation is made consistent with the
plate element. To avoid spurious shear locking and to guarantee good
convergence behaviour, the plate and the stiffener elements are based on
mixed interpolation of tensorial components. He has applied the method
to analyze the rectangular and orthogonally stiffened plates.
Lee and Ng [85] have studied the free vibrations of rectangular stiff-
ened plates using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. In their formulation they
have incorporated the effects of torsional restraint in addition to the bend-
ing restraint of the stiffeners. They have considered the characteristic

beam functions as the shape functions and have studied the effects of the
location and orientation of the stiffener and its relative stiffness to the
plate.
Bedair [20] has studied the free vibration characteristics of stiffened
plates due to plate/stiffener proportions. He has considered the plate
and the stiffener as the discrete elements rigidly connected at their junc-
tions and the nonlinear strain energy function of the assembled struc-
ture has been transformed into an unconstrained optimization problem
to which Sequential Quadratic Programming has been applied to deter-
mine the magnitudes of the lowest natural frequency and the associated
mode shape. The formulation is restricted to identical and equally spaced
stiffeners thereby loosing the generality of accommodating the stiffeners
arbitrarily. Moreover, the method can predict only the lowest frequency
and its mode shape.
2.4.3 Stability Analysis of Stiffened Plates

Bryan [28] was the first investigator to deal with the stability problems
of plates stiffened with equispaced longitudinal stiffeners where he made
important suggestions about the placement of the stiffeners in order to
achieve maximum strength. Timoshenko [183] has investigated the prob-
lem of minimum stiffness of the stiffeners to prevent overall buckling.
Cox and Riddel [43] have extended the concept of Timoshenko by
including the torsional effects of the stiffener using a strain energy for-
mulation. They have also studied a multiple stiffener case.
Seide [167] has introduced the effect of eccentrically positioned stiff-
eners in his formulation through the effective moment of inertia of the
stiffeners. The effective moment of inertia has been varied with the pro-
portion of the plate area and with the stiffener area. Klitchieff [79] has
presented an expression for the minimum dimensions of the stiffeners to
withstand a predetermined critical load.
Sherbourne et al. [174] have used the orthotropic plate approach for
the behaviour of the simply supported stiffened and corrugated plates
under uniform axial compression. This method has all the drawbacks of
the orthotropic plate modelling.
Dean and Abdel-Malek [44] have presented a discrete field approach
to compute the elastic buckling of stiffened plates subjected to uniform
longitudinal compression. As they have used the orthotropic stiffened
plate modelling, the formulation is restricted to the equally spaced and
equally sized stiffeners. Also it is confined to the simply supported plates
of rectangular geometries.
Allman [6] has carried out the analysis for buckling loads of square
and rectangular plates using triangular element. He has presented the re-
sults both by including and neglecting the torsional stiffness of the stiff-
eners and has considered three cross-sections of the stiffeners such as
square, rectangular and circular.
Shastry et al. [171] have solved the problem of buckling analysis of
stiffened plates with arbitrarily oriented stiffeners using finite element
method. In their modelling, they have used triangular plate bending ele-
ment and compatible beam element and applied the method to the buck-
ling analysis of square and rectangular stiffened plates.
Hovichitr et al. [66] have presented an analytical approach to analyze
orthogonally, equally spaced, simply supported stiffened plates for bend-
ing and stability. They have treated the stiffener sections, which were
assumed to be identical, and a portion of the plate as single unit. Using a
variational method, they have generated governing differential equations
of order of ten which in turn were reduced to eight and then to four using
simplifying assumptions. Using Fourier series approximations, numeri-

cal solutions were obtained for simply supported panels and comparisons
were made between the tenth, eighth and fourth order solutions. This
method has many limitations such as stiffeners should be identical and
equally spaced and the edges are to be simply supported.
Mizusawa et al. [118] have applied the Rayleigh-Ritz method with B-
spline functions as the coordinate functions for analyzing skew stiffened
plates. The B-spline functions used are continuous at nodal points for
higher order derivatives. They have studied the effect of various stiffness
parameters of the stiffener on the buckling load. The method has been
applied to the rectangular and the skew stiffened plate buckling.
Brown and Yettram [27] have proposed a conjugate load/displacement
method of analysis for the determination of the elastic buckling loads of
stiffened plates under various loading and support conditions. They have
highlighted the significance of the torsional rigidity of the stiffeners on
the overall behaviour of the complete structure. The method demands the
placement of the stiffeners to be oriented parallel to the x or y-coordinate
axes. They have analyzed buckling loads for rectangular stiffened plates.
Peng-Cheng et al. [145] have presented semianalytical approach us-
ing Rayleigh-Ritz method with B-spline functions as coordinate func-
tions to analyze static, vibration and stability behaviour of stiffened plates.
They have followed an alternative semianalytical approach and a compu-
tational scheme suitable for various types of boundary conditions. The
displacement components of the stiffened plate are defined in the form
of B-3 spline functions and the ribs are arranged parallel to x and y-
directions. They have analyzed rectangular plates with orthogonal orien-
tation of the stiffeners.
Mukhopadhyay and Mukherjee [135] have used an isoparametric stiff-
ened plate bending element for the buckling analysis of stiffened plates
in which the stiffener can be positioned anywhere within the plate ele-
ment and need not necessarily be placed on the nodal lines. They have
presented buckling results for square and skew stiffened plates and have
studied the effect of stiffener rigidity, torsional stiffness and eccentricity
of the stiffener on the buckling load. Though the element can readily ac-
commodate curved boundaries they have considered only the rectangular
and skew plates in their analysis.
Recently, an extensive review on the stability of stiffened plates has
been carried out by Bedair [19]. He has also presented a numerical
method for the prediction of the buckling load of multi-stiffened plates
under uniform compression following the philosophy of plate beam ide-
alization. He has employed the sequential quadratic programming to the
strain energy components of the plate and the stiffener elements which
are in terms of the out-of-plane and in-plane displacement functions. A
number of examples pertaining to the straight-edged orthogonally stiff-
ened plates buckling are presented. However, this method lacks in ana-
lyzing the curved boundary stiffened plates buckling.
Chapter - 3
MATHEMATICAL
FORMULATION
3.1 The Basic Problems

This chapter presents the mathematical formulation for static, free vi-
bration and stability analyses of the bare and stiffened plates of various
shapes. The analysis techniques are applied to the plates and the stiffen-
ers. Since the displacement functions chosen for the formulation of the
bare and the stiffened plates are different, they are presented in separate
sections.
The equations of equilibrium for an elastic system undergoing small
displacements in matrix form are:
1. Static Analysis
[K]{δ} = {P } (3.1.1)
2. Free Vibration Analysis
[K]{δ} + [M ]{δ̈} = {0} (3.1.2)
3. Stability Analysis
[K]{δ} − λ [KG ] {δ} = {0} (3.1.3)
47
48 MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION
where [K], [M ] and [KG ] are the global elastic stiffness, consistent mass
and geometric stiffness matrices respectively, {δ} and {δ̈} are the dis-
placement and acceleration vectors in the global coordinate system and
{P } is the load vector acting at the nodes. The global matrices used
in the Eqs.(3.1.1)-(3.1.3) are obtained by assembling the corresponding
element matrices which are derived in the forthcoming sections of this
Chapter.
3.2 Proposed Analysis

In the proposed method of analysis two types of basic structures such as
bare plates and stiffened plates are considered. The bare plate consists of
only a flat plate skin of arbitrary shape whereas the stiffened plate com-
prises the stiffening ribs in addition to the arbitrarily shaped flat plate
skin. In the present formulation the plates and the stiffeners are modelled
as discrete elements and the compatibility between them is maintained
by expressing the element stiffness matrix of the stiffener in terms of
the nodal degrees of freedom of the plate element in which the stiffener
is free to assume an arbitrary orientation, disposition and location. The
middle plane of the plate is taken as the reference plane. The formulation
is done for the plates having both the concentrically and eccentrically
placed stiffeners. Under the action of lateral loads the eccentrically stiff-
ened plates are having in-plane deformations in addition to the lateral
ones because of the eccentric position of the stiffeners. Hence the formu-
lation takes into account both the lateral and the in-plane displacements.
The boundary conditions are incorporated in the most general manner to
cater to the need of the curved boundary as well as to the more practical
mixed boundary conditions.
3.2 Proposed Analysis 49
3.2.1 The Basic Assumptions

The formulation is based on the following assumptions:
1. The normal to the middle plane of the plate before bending remains
straight and normal to the middle plane of the plate after bending.
2. The common normal to the plate and the stiffener system before
bending remains straight and normal to the deflected middle plane
of the plate after bending.
3. The horizontal bending of the stiffener is not taken into account.
4. The stress in the z-direction is small compared to the other stress

components and is thus neglected.
5. The material of the plate and the stiffener is same and follows
Hooke’s law.
6. The lateral deflection is small compared to the thickness of the

plate.
3.2.2 The Transformation of the Coordinate

The arbitrary shape of the whole plate is mapped into a Master Plate of
square region [-1,+1] in the s-t plane with the help of the relationship
given by (Zienkiewicz and Taylor [198]):
12
X 12
X
x= Ni (s, t) xi y= Ni (s, t) yi (3.2.1)
i=1 i=1
where (xi , yi ) are the coordinates of the i-th node on the boundary of the
plate in the x-y plane and Ni (s, t) are the corresponding cubic serendipity
Table 3.1: Cubic Serendipity Shape Function
Node Ni (ξ, η) Value of ξi and ηi

1
Corner 32
(1 + ξi ξ)(1 + ηi η) ξi = ±1
2 2
(1,4,7,10) [9(ξ + η ) − 10] ηi = ±1
9
Mid-side 32
(1 + ξi ξ)(1 − η 2 ) ξi = ±1
(2,3,8,9) (1 + 9ηi η) ηi = ± 13
9
Mid-side 32
(1 + ηi η)(1 − ξ 2 ) ξi = ± 13
(5,6,11,12) (1 + 9ξi ξ) ηi = ±1
t
y
12 11
1 12 11 10
1 (-1,1) (1,1)
10
2 2 9 (1,1/3)
9
s
3 8
3 8 (1,-1/3)
6 7 (-1,-1) (1,-1)
4 5 4 5 6 7
(-1/3,1) (1/3,-1)
x
(a) Original plate (b) Master plate
Figure 3.1: Mapping of the arbitrarily shaped plate
shape functions presented in the Table 3.1. The mapping of the original
plate to the Master plate is as shown in the Fig. 3.1. In a mapping based
on the serendipity shape function the interior opening at a corner node
should not be greater than 180◦ (Zienkiewicz and Taylor [198]). This
3.2 Proposed Analysis 51
t
η
(−1,1) 12 11 (1,1)
1 10
2 9
s ξ
3 8
4 7
(−1,−1) 5 6 (1,−1)
(a) Element in a 4x4 mesh (b) Master element
in s-t plane in ξ−η plane
Figure 3.2: Mapping of the element
angle is maximum in the case of the circular plate problems considered

in this investigation and is just equal to 180◦ . The Master Plate in the s-t
plane, which is a square one instead of an arbitrary one, is divided into a
number of rectangular elements. For each rectangular element in the s-t
plane, twelve number of suitable nodes on its periphery are chosen and
their (x, y) coordinates are determined by using the Eq.(3.2.1) which is
based on the mapping of the whole arbitrary plate to the Master Plate of
the Fig. 3.1. Thus the process of division of the Master Plate in the s-
t plane into the rectangular elements and the determination of the (x, y)
coordinates of the twelve nodes on the boundary of the elements becomes
simple because of its square geometry which rather would have been
more complex and tedious for the arbitrary geometry in the x-y plane.
Now the (x, y) coordinates of the twelve nodes on the boundary of each
rectangular element being known, each element is mapped to a Master
Element of square region [-1,+1] in the ξ-η plane as shown in the Fig. 3.2
in a similar way as the original plate is mapped into the Master Plate in
the s-t plane using the same cubic serendipity shape functions given in
Eq.(3.2.1), but now the variables being changed from (s, t) to (ξ, η).
3.3 Arbitrary Bare Plate Bending Formu-

lation
This section consists of the formulation of the elastic stiffness matrix, the
mass matrix and the geometric stiffness matrix of the bare plate element
which are [Ku ]e , [Mu ]e and [KuG ]e respectively and assembling them into
the respective global matrices [Ku ], [Mu ] and [KuG ]. Additionally, the
stiffness matrix [Ku ]b for the general curved boundary line is consistently
formulated (straight and skew ones being the special cases of them) and
added to the respective elastic stiffness matrix of the element. A single
general element is used for the solution of the static, free vibration and
stability problems of plates of arbitrary configurations.
3.3.1 The Displacement Function

Each square element in the ξ-η plane is considered for the generation
of the element matrices. For the proposed element, the four-noded rect-
angular non-conforming ACM plate bending element with 12 degrees of
freedom (Adini and Clough [1]) is taken as the basic element. As the ele-
ment is in the ξ-η plane, the shape functions and the nodal parameters for
the displacements and slopes are expressed in terms of the coordinates ξ
and η unlike the x and y coordinates of the parent ACM element. Thus
the displacement field can be written as
w = [Nw ] {δu } (3.3.1)

3.3 Arbitrary Bare Plate Bending Formulation 53
where

[Nw ] = [Nw1 Nθ1ξ Nθ1η Nw2 Nθ2ξ Nθ2η 
(3.3.2)

Nw3 Nθ3ξ Nθ3η Nw4 Nθ4ξ Nθ4η ]
· µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ ¸T
∂w ∂w ∂w ∂w
{δu } = w1 . . . . . . w4
∂ξ 1 ∂η 1 ∂ξ 4 ∂η 4
(3.3.3)
The shape functions for the displacement field for the jth node are given
as (Zienkiewicz and Taylor [198]):
1
[Nwj , Nθjξ , Nθjη ] = [(ξ0 + 1)(η0 + 1)(2 + ξ0 + η0 − ξ 2 − η 2 ),
8
ξj (ξ0 + 1)2 (ξ0 − 1)(η0 + 1), ηj (ξ0 + 1)(η0 + 1)2 (η0 − 1)](3.3.4)
ξ0 = ξξj η0 = ηηj (3.3.5)
3.3.2 Elastic Stiffness Matrix Formulation

3.3.2.1 Stress-Strain Relationship
The generalized stress-strain relation in matrix form is given by
{σu } = [Du ] {²u } (3.3.6)
where {σu } is the stress resultant vector given by
{σu } = [Mx My Mxy ]T (3.3.7)
and [Du ] is the rigidity matrix given by

 
D D1 0
 X 
[Du ] = 
 D1 DY 0 
 (3.3.8)
0 0 DXY
When isotropic material is considered;

Et3 

DX = DY = 

12(1 − ν 2 ) 
D1 = νDX (3.3.9)


1−ν 

DXY = DX 
2
The generalized strains are given by
· ¸T
∂2w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w
{²u } = − 2 − 2 2 (3.3.10)
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
3.3.2.2 Strain-Displacement Relationship
The displacement functions of the plate element is expressed in terms of

the local ξ-η coordinate system whereas the strains are in terms of the
derivatives of the displacements with respect to the x and y coordinates.
Hence before establishing the relationship between the strain and the dis-
placement the first and second order derivatives of the displacement w
with respect to the x-y coordinates are expressed in terms of those of the
ξ-η coordinates using the chain rule of differentiation and are obtained as
below:
 ∂w   ∂w 

 
 
 

 ∂x   ∂ξ 
−1
= [J] (3.3.11)
   ∂w 
 ∂w 
  
 

∂y ∂η
   2 

 ∂2w 
 
 ∂ w 


 − 
 
 
  ∂w 

 ∂x2 
 
 ∂ξ 2 


 
 
 
 
 
   2   ∂ξ 

∂2w −1 ∂ w −1 −1
− 2 = [J2] − [J2] [J1][J]
 ∂y   ∂η 2   











  ∂w 
 

 
 
 
 ∂η

 ∂ 2w 
 
 ∂ 2w 

 2   
∂x∂y ∂ξ∂η
(3.3.12)
where
 ∂x ∂y 
 ∂ξ ∂ξ 
[J] = 
 ∂x
 (3.3.13)
∂y 
∂η ∂η
 
∂ 2x ∂ 2y
 ∂ξ 2 ∂ξ 2 
 
 2 
 ∂ x ∂ y 
2
[J1] = 
 ∂η 2
 (3.3.14)
 ∂η 2 

 
 ∂ 2x ∂ y 
2
∂ξ∂η ∂ξ∂η
 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
 − − 
 ∂ξ ∂ξ ∂ξ ∂ξ 
 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 
 ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y 
[J2] = 
 − − 

 ∂η ∂η ∂η ∂η 
 µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ 
 ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y 1 ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y 
− − +
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η 2 ∂ξ ∂η ∂η ∂ξ
(3.3.15)
From the above equations the strain vector of Eq.(3.3.10) can be ex-
pressed as
 

 ∂w 


 


 ∂ξ 

  
 

∂ 2w  
 ∂w 


  

 − 2   
 


 ∂x  



 ∂η 



 
 
 

  h i  ∂2w 
∂ 2w
− 2 = [TF 1 ] [TF 2 ]  ∂ξ 2 (3.3.16)

 ∂y    


 
 
 


 2 
 
 ∂2w 


 ∂ w   
 

 2  
 

∂x∂y 
 ∂η 2 


 


 


 ∂2w 

 
∂ξ ∂η
or
{²(x, y)u } = [Tu ] {²(ξ, η)u } (3.3.17)
where
[TF 1 ] = −[J2]−1 [J1][J]−1 [TF 2 ] = [J2]−1 (3.3.18)
and {²(x, y)u } and {²(ξ, η)u } denote the strain vectors in the respective
coordinate systems, the expression for {²(ξ, η)u } being given by;
· ¸T
∂w ∂w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w ∂2w
{²(ξ, η)u } = (3.3.19)
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ 2 ∂η 2 ∂ξ∂η
Using Eqs. (3.3.1) and (3.3.2), the Eq.(3.3.19) can be rewritten as

£ ¤
{²(ξ, η)u } = B̄u {δu } (3.3.20)
where
· ¸T
£ ¤ ∂Nw ∂Nw ∂ 2 Nw ∂ 2 Nw ∂ 2 Nw
B̄u = (3.3.21)
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ 2 ∂η 2 ∂ξ ∂η
Hence the combination of Eqs.(3.3.17) and (3.3.20), yields
{²(x, y)u } = [Bu ]{δu } (3.3.22)
where
[Bu ] = [Tu ][B̄u ] (3.3.23)
The stress-strain relationship from Eq.(3.3.6) can be expressed with
the help of the Eq.(3.3.22) as
{σu } = [Du ][Bu ]{δu } (3.3.24)
3.3.2.3 Stiffness Matrix of the Bare Plate Bending Element

Total potential energy of the plate element is given by
ZZ³ ´ ZZ
1 T
Πp = {²(x, y)} {σ(x, y)} dx dy − wT q dx dy (3.3.25)
2
Applying the principle of minimum potential energy and making appro-
priate substitutions for {²(x, y)} and {σ(x, y)}, Eq.(3.3.25) reduces to
[Ku ]e {δu } = {P }e (3.3.26)
where {δu } is the vector of nodal displacements and {P }e is the vector

of nodal forces and [Ku ]e is the plate element stiffness matrix given by
ZZ
[Ku ]e = [Bu ]T [Du ][Bu ] dx dy (3.3.27)
Since the [Bu ] matrix is a function of ξ and η, the Eq.(3.3.27) can be

rewritten as ZZ
[Ku ]e = [Bu ]T [Du ][Bu ] |J| dξ dη (3.3.28)
where |J| is the determinant of the Jacobian matrix [J] given by Eq.(3.3.13).
The integration of the Eq.(3.3.28) is carried out numerically by adopting
2 × 2 Gaussian quadrature formula.
3.3.3 Consistent Mass Matrix of the Bare Plate

Element
A consistent mass matrix of the plate element is formulated on the basis
of the lateral displacement w. The acceleration of a point in the middle
plane of the plate in terms of the interpolation function given in Eq.(3.3.1)
can be expressed as
{f¨} = {w}
¨ = [Nw ] {δü } (3.3.29)
Hence the inertia force of a small element of volume dV at that point is

given by
¨ = ρ dV [Nw ] {δü }
{fI } = ρ dV {w} (3.3.30)
where ρ is the mass density of the plate material.
If {FI } is the nodal inertia force parameter, then the contribution of
the inertia in the equation of motion can be obtained from the principle
of virtual work and can be expressed as
Z
© Tª © Tª
dδ {FI } = df {fI } (3.3.31)
v
The above equation with the help of the Eq.(3.3.30) can be rewritten as
Z
© Tª © Tª
dδ {FI } = dδ [Nw ]T ρ dV [Nw ] {δü } (3.3.32)
v
from which
Z
{FI } = ρ [Nw ]T [Nw ] dV {δü } = [Mu ]e {δü } (3.3.33)
v
where [Mu ]e is the mass matrix of the bare plate element and for constant
thickness t it is given by
Z ZZ
T
[Mu ]e = ρ [Nw ] [Nw ] dV = ρt [Nw ]T [Nw ] |J| dξ dη (3.3.34)
v
3.3.4 Geometric Stiffness Matrix of the Bare Plate

Element
To formulate the geometric stiffness matrix, the action of the in-plane
loads causing bending strains is considered. The membrane strains asso-
∂w ∂w
ciated with the small rotations and of the plate mid-surface are
∂x ∂y
given by
 µ ¶2 

 1 ∂w 

   
 2 ∂x



 ²x    
 


   µ ¶2  
1 ∂w
{²uG } = ²y  =  (3.3.35)

   2 ∂y 

    
γxy 
 µ ¶µ ¶  


 ∂w ∂w 

 
∂x ∂y
If the stresses σx , σy and τxy are assumed to remain constant during
the occurrence of the strains {²uG }, the associated work is given by the
equation
ZZZ
W = {²uG }T {σ} dx dy dz (3.3.36)
where
{σ} = [σx σy τxy ]T (3.3.37)
Substituting the value of {²uG } from Eq.(3.3.35) in Eq.(3.3.36), yields
Z Z Z " µ ¶2 µ ¶2 µ ¶µ ¶#
1 ∂w 1 ∂w ∂w ∂w
W = {σ} dx dy dz
2 ∂x 2 ∂y ∂x ∂y
ZZZ
1
= {θu }T [σu ]{θu } dx dy dz
2
(3.3.38)
where · ¸T
∂w ∂w
{θu } = (3.3.39)
∂x ∂y
and  
σx τxy 
[σu ] =  (3.3.40)
τxy σy
The Eq.(3.3.39) can be expressed in terms of ξ and η and can be rewritten
as  ∂w   ∂w 

   
 ∂x   
 ∂ξ  
{θu } = = [TuG ] (3.3.41)

 ∂w 
 
 ∂w 

   
∂y ∂η
where
[TuG ] = [J]−1 (3.3.42)
and  ∂w 

 
 ∂ξ 
 £ ¤
= B̄uG {δu } (3.3.43)
 
 ∂w 
 
∂η
where ·· ¸ · ¸¸T
£ ¤ ∂Nw ∂Nw
B̄uG = (3.3.44)
∂ξ ∂η
Hence combining Eq.(3.3.41) and Eq.(3.3.43) {θu } can be expressed
as
£ ¤
{θu } = [TuG ] B̄uG {δu } = [BuG ] {δu } (3.3.45)
where
£ ¤
[BuG ] = [TuG ] B̄uG (3.3.46)
Substituting the value of {θu } from Eq.(3.3.45) the Eq.(3.3.38) be-

comes
ZZZ
1
W = {δu }T [BuG ]T [σu ] [BuG ] {δu } dx dy dz
2
ZZ (3.3.47)
t T T
= {δu } [BuG ] [σu ] [BuG ] {δu } dx dy
2
The external work done by the nodal forces is given by
1
W = {δu }T [KuG ] {δu } (3.3.48)
2
From Eqs.(3.3.47) and (3.3.48) the geometric stiffness matrix of the bare
plate element can be written as
ZZ ZZ
T
[KuG ]e = t [BuG ] [σu ] [BuG ] dx dy = t [BuG ]T [σu ] [BuG ] |J| dξ dη
(3.3.49)
where the subscript e denotes that the matrix is for the plate element.
3.3.5 Boundary Conditions for the Bare Plate

As a general case the stiffness matrix for a curved boundary supported on
elastic springs continuously spread in the directions of possible displace-
ments and rotations along the boundary line is formulated from which
specific boundary conditions can be obtained by incorporating the ap-
propriate value of the spring constants. Considering a local axis system
x1 -y1 at a point P on a curved boundary along the direction of the normal
to the boundary at that point as shown in the Fig. 3.3 the displacement
components along it can be found.
Let the angle made by the local axis x1 -y1 with the global axis x-y be β.
Hence a relationship between the two axes can be established as given
below.     
 x  cosβ −sinβ  x1  
=  (3.3.50)
 y  sinβ cosβ  y1 
y
y1
x1
P
β
x
Figure 3.3: Coordinate axes at a typical point of a curved

boundary
The displacements at P which may be restrained can be expressed as
   
  w 

 w 








 
 
 


  
  
∂w 
{fbu } = =
θn   (3.3.51)

   ∂x1 


 
 
 


 
  ∂w 
   




θt
∂y1
where θn and θt represent the slopes which are normal and transverse to
the boundaries respectively. Substituting from Eqs.(3.3.50), the Eq.(3.3.51)
can be written as
  
 w 
1 0 0   

  

  

  

  ∂w 

 
{fbu } =  0 cosβ sinβ  (3.3.52)
  ∂x 
  

  

 




 ∂w 

0 −sinβ cosβ  
∂y
Expressing Eq.(3.3.52) in terms of the shape functions;
{fbu } = [Nbu ] {δu } (3.3.53)
where
 
   [Nw ] 

 


 

1 0 0   

  

  

  ∂[N ]
w 

  
  ∂x
[Nbu ] =  0 cosβ sinβ  (3.3.54)
  

  
 
 ∂[N ]



  w 


 
0 −sinβ cosβ   ∂y  


 

The reaction components per unit length along the boundary line due
to the elastic springs corresponding to the possible boundary displace-
ments given in the Eq.(3.3.51) can be expressed as
 
  
  kw w  
 fkw 
  
 





 
 
 


 
   

{fku } = = k θ
α n (3.3.55)
 fkα   

 
 
 


 
 
 


 
   k θ 

fkβ 
 β t 

where kw , kα and kβ are the spring constants or restraint coefficients

corresponding to the direction of w, θn and θt respectively.
The Eq.(3.3.55) can be rewritten by combining the Eqs.(3.3.51), (3.3.52)
and (3.3.53) as
{fku } = [Nku ]{δu } (3.3.56)
where
  
 
k 0 0  [Nw ] 
 
 w  

 




  
   ∂[N ] 
 
  w
[Nku ] =  0 
kα cosβ kα sinβ   ∂x  (3.3.57)

  

 




  


 ∂[N w 
] 
0 −kβ sinβ kβ cosβ  
∂y
Using Equations (3.3.52) and (3.3.55) the stiffness matrix can be ob-
tained by the virtual work principle and it can be expressed as
Z
[Kbu ] = [Nbu ]T [Nku ] |Jb | dλ1 (3.3.58)
where λ1 is the direction of the boundary line in the ξ-η plane and the
ds1
Jacobian |Jb | = .
dλ1
The value of the Jacobian along a boundary line is considered as a
constant quantity and is evaluated by the ratio of the actual length to the
length on the mapped domain considering any segment of the boundary
line.
A classical boundary condition can be attained by substituting a high
value of the restraint coefficients corresponding to the restraint direction.
3.4 Arbitrary Stiffened Plate Element Formulation 65
3.3.6 Stresses at the Nodes of the Bare Plate

Once the element nodal degrees of freedom {δu } are known the bend-
ing moments [Mx My Mxy ] at the nodes are calculated by using the
Eqs.(3.3.6), (3.3.7) and (3.3.24) which becomes
{σu } = [Mx My Mxy ]T = [Du ]{²u } = [Du ][Bu ]{δu } (3.3.59)
3.4 Plate Element Formulation for Ec-

centrically Stiffened Arbitrary Plate
The eccentrically stiffened plates consist of the stiffeners whose positions
are not symmetric with respect to the reference plane (plate mid-plane).
In such a situation there exists a coupling between the axial and the flex-
ural effects. Hence as a general case, a curved stiffener with eccentricity
with respect to the plate mid-plane is considered for the formulation. The
matrices for the concentric stiffeners can be obtained from those of the
eccentric ones by excluding the axial effects in the formulation. For solv-
ing the static, free vibration and stability problems of arbitrarily shaped
plates stiffened with the arbitrarily oriented stiffeners the elastic stiffness,
mass and geometric stiffness matrices of the plate element [Kp ]e , [Mp ]e
and [KpG ]e respectively and those of stiffener element [KS ]e , [MS ]e and
[KSG ]e respectively are derived and they are assembled into the respec-
tive global matrices. The stiffness matrices [Kp ]b for the general curved
boundaries are also derived following the similar procedure as in the case
of the boundaries of bare plate formulation.
3.4.1 The Displacement Function
For the proposed stiffened plate bending element, the bending deforma-
tion has been represented combining the four-noded rectangular non-
conforming ACM plate bending element with 12 degrees of freedom
(Adini and Clough [1]), already used in the formulation of the bare plate,
and the four-noded rectangular plane stress element with 8 degrees of
freedom for the in-plane deformations. As before, the element is in the
ξ-η plane, and the shape functions as well as the nodal parameters for the
displacements and slopes are expressed in terms of the coordinates ξ and
η instead of x and y coordinates of the parent ACM element. Thus the
displacement field can be written as:
   

 
u  
 [Nu ] 


 
 
 


 
  
    

{f } = v  =  [Nv ]  {δp } (3.4.1)

   

  
  


 
 
 

   
w [Nw ]
where [Nu ], [Nv ] and [Nw ] are the vectors of the respective shape func-
tions out of which [Nu ] and [Nv ] are given as:

[Nu ] = [Nu1 0 0 0 0 Nu2 0 0 0 0 





Nu3 0 0 0 0 Nu4 0 0 0 0] 



(3.4.2)
[Nv ] = [0 Nv1 0 0 0 0 Nv2 0 0 0 






0 Nv3 0 0 0 0 Nv 0 0 0] 
4 


and [Nw ] is given by the Eq.(3.3.2) and the displacement vector {δp } for
the stiffened plate is expressed as:
µ ¶ µ ¶ 
∂w ∂w 
{δp } = [u1 v1 w1 ... ... 

∂ξ ∂η
1 1 µ ¶ µ ¶ ¸T
∂w ∂w 

u4 v4 w4 
∂ξ 4 ∂η 4
(3.4.3)
The shape functions for the displacement field corresponding to a
particular node, say the jth node can be expressed as:
• for the inplane displacements:
1
Nuj = Nvj = (1 + ξ0 )(1 + η0 ) (3.4.4)
4
• and for the out of plane displacements: the same expression as

given by Eq.(3.3.4).
where ξ0 and η0 have their usual meanings as before.
3.4.2 The Plate Element Formulation

Considering the middle plane of the plate as the reference plane and tak-
ing the lateral and the in-plane displacements into account, the general-
ized stress-strain relationship can be obtained following the procedure of
section (3.3.2.1), the expressions for the stress and strain vectors and the
rigidity matrix being given by:
{σp } = [Fx Fy Fxy Mx My Mxy ]T (3.4.5)

 
DXA D1A
 
 D1A DY A 0 
 
 
 DXY A 
[Dp ] = 


 (3.4.6)
 DXF D1F 
 
 
 0 D1F DY F 
DXY F
where the elements of the matrix for isotropic material are given by:

Et Et3 

DXA = DY A = DXF = DY F = 
1−ν 2 12(1 − ν ) 
2 



D1A = νDXA D1F = νDXF (3.4.7)




1−ν 1−ν 



DXY A = DXA DXY F = DXF
2 2
 

 ∂u 


 


 ∂x 


 


 ∂v 


 


 


 ∂y 


 


 ∂u ∂v 


 

 ∂y + ∂x
 

{²p } = (3.4.8)

 ∂ 2w 


 − 


 ∂x2 


 


 


 ∂ 2w 


 − 


 ∂y 2 


 


 


 ∂ 2w 


 2 

∂x∂y

Using the relationship between the x-y and the ξ-η coordinate systems
as obtained in the section (3.3.2.2), the first order derivatives of the dis-
placements with respect to the x and y coordinates in the expressions of
Eq.(3.4.8) can be written in terms of the ξ and η coordinates such as:
   
 ∂u   ∂u 

∂u
 
∂ξ ∂η 
 ∂ξ





 ∂ξ



  
 
 
 


 
 0 0    

 ∂x 
  ∂x ∂x  
∂u  
 ∂u 


 
   
 
 

 ∂v   ∂ξ ∂η  ∂η

 
 ∂η


 
= 0 0  = [TA ]

 ∂y 
  ∂y ∂y  ∂v   ∂v 

 
   
 
 


 ∂u ∂v 
  ∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η 



∂ξ 


 ∂ξ




 
 
 
 
 

+ 
 
 
 
∂y ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x ∂x 



∂v 



 ∂v 


∂η ∂η
(3.4.9)
and the expression for the second order derivatives is same as that given
by the Eq.(3.3.16). Hence the strain vector of Eq.(3.4.8) can be expressed
as:
 

 ∂u 


 


 ∂x 


 


 ∂v 


 


 


 ∂y 


 


 ∂u ∂v 
  

 + 

  [T A ] 0 0
∂y ∂x  
∂ 2
w =   {²(ξ, η)p } (3.4.10)

 − 


 

 ∂x2  

0 [TF 1 ] [TF 2 ]

 


 ∂ 2w  

 − 


 2 


 ∂y 


 


 ∂ 2
w 


 

 2 
∂x∂y
or,
{²(x, y)p } = [Tp ] {²(ξ, η)p } (3.4.11)
where  
[TA ] 0 0
 
[Tp ] =   (3.4.12)
0 [TF 1 ] [TF 2 ]
· ¸T
∂u ∂u ∂v ∂v ∂w ∂w ∂ 2w
∂ 2w ∂ 2w
{²(ξ, η)p } =
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ 2
∂ξ ∂η ∂η 2
(3.4.13)
Following the same procedure as in the case of the bare plate, the
strain-displacement relationship can be written as:
{σp } = [Dp ] [Bp ] {δp } (3.4.14)
where
£ ¤
[Bp ] = [Tp ] B̄p (3.4.15)
and
·
£ ¤ ∂Nu ∂Nu ∂Nv ∂Nv ∂Nw ∂Nw
B̄p =
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η
¸T
∂ 2 Nw ∂ 2 Nw ∂ 2 Nw
(3.4.16)
∂ξ 2 ∂η 2 ∂ξ ∂η
3.4.2.3 Elastic Stiffness Matrix of the Plate Element of the

Stiffened Plate
Applying the principle of minimum potential energy and following the
same procedure of the bare plate, the stiffness matrix of the plate skin
can be written as:
ZZ
[Kp ]e = [Bp ]T [Dp ] [Bp ] |J| dξ dη (3.4.17)
where the integration of the above equation is carried out numerically by

2 × 2 Gaussian quadrature formula.
3.4.2.4 Consistent Mass Matrix of the Plate Element of the

Stiffened Plate
A consistent mass matrix for the plate element is formulated on the basis
of lateral as well as in-plane displacements.
The displacement components of a point at a depth z from the middle
plane of the plate can be expressed in terms of those at the plate mid-
plane as
   
   ∂w 

 ū 
 
 u−z 

 
 
 ∂x 


 
   

{f } = ∂w
 v̄  =  v − z (3.4.18)

 
 
 ∂y 


 
 
 


  
  

w̄ w
Using the displacement interpolation function from Eq.(3.4.1), the Eq.(3.4.18)

can be written as
{f } = [G][L][N ]{δp } = [Np ] {δp } (3.4.19)
where
 
1 0 0 −z 0
 
 
 
[G] = 
 0 1 0 0 −z 
 (3.4.20)
 
 
0 0 1 0 0
 
1 0 0 0 0
 
 
 
 
 0 1 0 0 0 
 
 
 
 
[L] =  0 0 1 0 0  (3.4.21)
 
 
 
 0 0 0 ∂ξ ∂η 
 ∂x ∂x 
 
 
 ∂ξ ∂η 
0 0 0
∂y ∂y
· ¸T
∂[Nw ] ∂[Nw ]
[N ] = [Nu ] [Nv ] [Nw ] (3.4.22)
∂ξ ∂η
The mass matrix of the plate element for constant thickness t and
constant mass density ρ as derived earlier for the bare plate is given by:
Z
[Mp ] = ρ [Np ]T [Np ] dv (3.4.23)
v
which can be rewritten as

ZZ
[Mp ] = ρt [N ]T [L]T [P ][L][N ] |J| dξ dη (3.4.24)
where  
1 0 0 0 0
 
 
 
 
 0 1 0 0 0 
 
 
 
 0 
[P ] =  0 0 1 0  (3.4.25)
 
 
 2 
 0 0 0 t 0 
 
 12 
 
 t2 
1 0 0 0
12
3.4.2.5 Geometric Stiffness Matrix of the Plate Element of

the Stiffened Plate
For the analysis of the buckling behaviour, the action of the in-plane loads
causing bending strains is considered by which the stiffness matrix is
£ ¤
modified by another matrix Kp G (geometric stiffness matrix) and then
the eigenvalue problem as mentioned in the Eq.(3.1.3) is solved to obtain
the buckling parameter.
The stretched length for the transverse and in-plane displacements in
an element of length dx as shown in the Fig. 3.4 is expressed as:
∂u
- dx ¾
dx ∂x
6
∂w
dx
dx0 ∂x
?
Figure 3.4: Stretching of an element
sµ ¶2 µ
¶2
0 ∂u ∂w
dx = dx + dx
+ dx
∂x ∂x
"µ 1
¶2 µ ¶2 #
∂u ∂w 2 (3.4.26)
= dx 1 + +
∂x ∂x
" µ ¶2 µ ¶2 #
∂u 1 ∂u 1 ∂w
= dx 1 + + + + ...
∂x 2 ∂x 2 ∂x
Neglecting the higher order terms, the expression for the axial strain
of the mid-plane of the plate in the x-direction is:
µ ¶2 µ ¶2
∂u 1 ∂u 1 ∂w
²x = + + ... (3.4.27)
∂x 2 ∂x 2 ∂x
The presence of the quadratic terms in the mid-plane strain accounts

for the transverse displacement. The expression for the strain at the mid-
plane of the plate is written as:
{²} = {²pE } + {²pG } (3.4.28)
where ²pE and ²pG are the elastic and the geometric plate strain respec-
tively, and are given by:
 
 ∂u 

 


 ∂x 


 


 


 ∂v 


 


 ∂y 


 

 ∂u ∂v 
{²pE } = + (3.4.29)

 ∂y ∂x 


 


 ∂w 


 


 


 ∂x 


 


 ∂w 


 

∂y
and
 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 

 1 ∂w 1 ∂u 1 ∂v 


 + + 


 2 ∂x 2 ∂x 2 ∂x 


 


 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 


 1 ∂w 1 ∂u 1 ∂v 


 + + 


 2 ∂y 2 ∂y 2 ∂y 


 µ ¶µ ¶ µ ¶µ ¶ µ ¶µ ¶  
{²pG } = ∂w ∂w ∂u ∂u ∂v ∂v

 + + 

 ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y  


 


 


 0 


 


 


 


 

0
(3.4.30)
The contribution of in-plane displacements to the geometric stiffness

matrix being insignificant, it is not considered in the formulation. Hence
the displacement field for the plate element can be written as:
 
 ∂w 
    −z 
 u  
 ∂x 



 
   

{f } = ∂w
 v  =  −z (3.4.31)

 
   ∂y 


w 
 


 

w
Substituting the values of u, v and w from Eq.(3.4.31) in Eq.(3.4.30)

yields,
 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 µ ¶2 

 1 ∂w z2 ∂ 2w z2 ∂ 2w 


 + + 


 2 ∂x 2 ∂x2 2 ∂x ∂y 


 


 µ ¶ µ ¶ 2 µ 2 ¶2 


 1 ∂w
2
z 2
∂ 2
w z 2
∂ w 


 + + 


 2 ∂y 2 ∂x ∂y 2 ∂y 2 


 


 µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ µ 2 ¶µ 2 ¶ 

 ∂w ∂w ∂ 2
w ∂ 2
w ∂ w ∂ w 
{²pG } = + z2 2
+ z2 2

 ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x ∂y 


 


 


 0 


 


 


 


 


 


 

 
0
1
= [A]{θp }
2
(3.4.32)
where
 
∂w ∂2w ∂ 2w
 ∂x 0 −z 2 0 −z 
 ∂x ∂x ∂y

 
 ∂w 2
∂ w 2
∂ w 
[A] = 
 0 0 −z 2 −z 

 ∂y ∂y ∂x ∂y 
 µ 2 ¶ 
 ∂w ∂w 2
∂ w 2
∂ w ∂ w ∂ w 2
−z −z −z +
∂y ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x2 ∂y 2
(3.4.33)
and
· ¸T
∂w ∂w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w
{θp } = −z 2 −z 2 −z (3.4.34)
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
Taking the variation of Eq.(3.4.32)
1 1
δ {²pG } = δ [A]{θp } + [A] δ {θp } (3.4.35)
2 2
It can be shown that (Zienkiewicz and Taylor [198]):
δ [A]{θp } = [A] δ {θp } (3.4.36)
Hence
δ {²pG } = [A] δ {θp } (3.4.37)
or
{²pG } = [A] {θp } (3.4.38)
The strain vector {θp } can be rewritten as:

 
   ∂w 

 

1 0 0 0 0  ∂x 
  

  

  ∂w 

0 1 0  

 0 0  ∂y 

  

  

   ∂ 2w 
{θp } = 0 0 +z 0 0    − ∂x2
  
 (3.4.39)
  

  ∂ 2w 

0 0 0 +z 0 
 − 2



  
  ∂y 

  

1   ∂ 2w 

0 0 0 0 − z   

2  2 ∂x ∂y 
= [HpG ] {²̄pG }
The vector {²̄pG } can be expressed in terms of the ξ-η coordinates as:
{²̄pG (x, y)} = [TpG ] {²̄pG (ξ, η)} (3.4.40)
where {²̄pG (x, y)} denotes the strain vector in the x-y coordinate system
and  
[TF 3 ] 0
 
[TpG ] =   (3.4.41)
[TF 1 ] [TF 2 ]
· ¸T
∂w ∂w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w
{²̄pG (ξ, η)} = (3.4.42)
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ 2 ∂η 2 ∂ξ ∂η
[TF 1 ] = −[J2]−1 [J1][J]−1

[TF 2 ] = [J2]−1
[TF 3 ] = [J]−1 (3.4.43)
The Eq.(3.4.42) can be rewritten as:

£ ¤
{²̄pG (ξ, η)} = B̄pG {δp } (3.4.44)
where
·µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶¸T
£ ¤ ∂Nw ∂Nw ∂ 2 Nw ∂ 2 Nw ∂ 2 Nw
B̄pG =
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ 2 ∂η 2 ∂ξ ∂η
(3.4.45)
Hence combining Eq.(3.4.40) and Eq.(3.4.44) yields,
£ ¤
{²̄pG (x, y)} = [TpG ] B̄pG {δp } = [BpG ] {δp } (3.4.46)
Hence
{θp } = [HpG ] {²̄pG } = [HpG ] [BpG ] {δp } (3.4.47)
The internal work done by the distributed internal stresses can be ex-
pressed as: ZZZ
δW = {²pG }T {σ} dx dy dz (3.4.48)
where
{σ} = [σx σy τxy ]T (3.4.49)
Substituting the values of {²pG } from the Eq.(3.4.46) in the Eq.(3.4.48)

ZZZ
δW = δ {δp }T [BpG ]T [HpG ]T [A]T {σ} dx dy dz (3.4.50)
 
∂w ∂w
 0 
 ∂x ∂y 
 
 ∂w ∂w  
 0 
 ∂y ∂x  σx 
 




  
 

 ∂ 2
w ∂ 2
w 
T 
[A] {σ} =  −z 2 0 −z 
∂x ∂x ∂y   σy 
  
 




 ∂ 2
w ∂ 2
w  
 

 0 −z −z  τ
 ∂y 2 ∂x ∂y  xy
 
 µ ¶
 2
∂ w 2
∂ w ∂ w ∂ w 
2 2
−z −z −z +
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x2 ∂y 2
 
  ∂w 

 

σ x τ xy 0 0 0 
 ∂x 

   

   

   ∂w 

   

τ
 xy σ y 0 0 0   ∂y 

   

   

  ∂ 2
w
=0 0 σx 0 
τxy   −z
  ∂x2  
   

   ∂ 2
w 

0  
 

 0 0 σy τxy    −z 

   ∂y 2 

   


 2 

 ∂ w 
0 0 τxy τxy (σx + σy )   −z 

∂x ∂y
= [σp ]{θp }
(3.4.51)
Hence Eq.(3.4.50) can be rewritten as:

ZZZ
δW = δ {δp }T [BpG ]T [HpG ]T [σp ]{θp } dx dy dz
ZZZ
=δ {δp }T [BpG ]T [HpG ]T [σp ] [HpG ] [BpG ] {δp } dx dy dz
(3.4.52)
The external work done by the nodal forces is given by:
δW = δ{δp }T {R} (3.4.53)
Equating the external work and the internal work

ZZZ
{R} = [BpG ]T [HpG ]T [σp ] [HpG ] [BpG ] {δp } dx dy dz
(3.4.54)
= [KpG ]e {δp }
where [KpG ]e is the geometric stiffness matrix given by:

ZZZ
[KpG ]e = [BpG ]T [HpG ]T [σp ] [HpG ] [BpG ] dx dy dz (3.4.55)
As the reference plane is the mid-plane of the plate, only the inner-
most integral contains the terms z. Hence this integration can be per-
formed separately. Hence
ZZ
[KpG ]e = [BpG ]T [σ̄] [BpG ] dx dy
ZZ (3.4.56)
T
= [BpG ] [σ̄] [BpG ] |J| dξ dη
where Z t/2
[σ̄] = [HpG ]T [σp ] [HpG ] dz (3.4.57)
−t/2
3.4.3 The Stiffener Element Formulation

The stiffener is modelled as a separate element and the formulation of
its stiffness matrix is carried out by considering the axial force, bending
moment and torsional moment. As a general case, a curved stiffener
having eccentricity with respect to the mid-plane of the plate and placed
arbitrarily within the plate element is considered. Since the stiffener is a
curved one, its axis changes its direction from point to point and hence its
deformation at a particular point, say P is to be considered in the direction
of the tangent to the stiffener at that point as shown in the Fig. 3.5. The
displacement field is based on the assumption that the common normal
to the plate and the stiffener system before bending remains straight and
normal to the middle plane of the plate after bending.
y
y’
P x’
α
x
Figure 3.5: Coordinate axes at any point of a curved stiff-
ener
3.4.3.1 Coordinate Transformation for the Stiffener

In the Fig. 3.5, x0 -y 0 is the local coordinate system at point P where x0
is the direction of the tangent to the stiffener which is at an angle α in
anti-clockwise direction with respect to the global x-axis direction.

The coordinate systems x-y and x0 -y 0 are related as
    
   0 
x cos α −sin α  x
= (3.4.58)
 y  sin α cos α  y 0 
The derivatives of x and y with respect to x0 and y 0 are obtained as


∂x 
= cos α  

∂x 0 



∂x 

= −sin α 

∂y 0 
∂y (3.4.59)
= sin α 



∂x0 



∂y 

= cos α 

∂y 0 
The relationship between the local and the global displacements at

point P in the reference plane which is the mid-plane of the plate is given
by     
 0   
 u 
   cos α sin α 0    u  
0 = 
v   −sin α cos α 0   v   (3.4.60)

   
 0   
w 0 0 1 w
where u0 , v 0 , w0 are the displacements at the middle plane of the plate
along x0 , y 0 and z 0 (z 0 = z) directions respectively.

The axial displacement of a point, say P1 in the stiffener at a depth z
(Fig. 3.6) from the reference middle plane of the plate and normal to it is
expressed as
∂w0
ū0 = u0 − z 0 (3.4.61)
∂x
z
P
Figure 3.6: Sectional view of a typical stiffener
The corresponding strain in the stiffener is

∂u0 ∂ 2 w0
²̄sl = − z (3.4.62)
∂x0 ∂x0 2
and the normal stress is
· ¸
∂u0 ∂ 2 w0
σ̄sl = E − z (3.4.63)
∂x0 ∂x0 2
The axial force in the stiffener is given by
Z Z Z
∂u0 ∂ 2 w0
Fs = σ¯sl dAs = E 0 dAs − E 0 2 z dAs
As ∂x As ∂x As
∂u0 ∂ 2 w0
= EAs − ES s (3.4.64)
∂x0 ∂x0 2
where As is the cross sectional area and Ss is the first moment of area of
the stiffener with respect to the middle plane of the plate. The value of
Ss depends on the disposition of the stiffener.
The bending moment is
Z
Ms = σ̄sl z dAs (3.4.65)
As
Substituting the value of σ̄s from Eq.(3.4.63) in Eq.(3.4.65), it yields

∂u0 ∂ 2 w0
Ms = ESs − EI s (3.4.66)
∂x0 ∂x0 2
where Is is the second moment of area (reference plane being the mid-
plane of the plate) of the stiffener.
It is observed from Eqs.(3.4.64) and (3.4.66) that the eccentricity of
the stiffener produces coupling between the axial and the flexural effects.
The torsional moment is given by
∂ 2 w0
Ts = −G Js (3.4.67)
∂x0 ∂y 0
where G is the modulus of rigidity and Js is the torsional constant of the
stiffener.
Combining Eqs.(3.4.64), (3.4.66), and (3.4.67) the generalized stress-
strain relationship of the stiffener in the local axis system at the point P
is expressed as
{σs } = [Ds ] {²s } (3.4.68)
where
{σs } = [Fs Ms Ts ]T (3.4.69)
· 0 ¸T
∂u ∂ 2 w0 ∂ 2 w0
{²s } = − 02 − 0 0 (3.4.70)
∂x0 ∂x ∂x ∂y
and  
E A s E Ss 0
 

[Ds ] =  E Ss E Is 0  (3.4.71)

0 0 G Js

The local displacements and coordinate parameters in the generalized
strain vector of the stiffener given in Eq.(3.4.70) are replaced by the
global parameters using Eqs.(3.4.58) and (3.4.60) and it becomes
{²s } = [Ts ] {²̄s } (3.4.72)

where
 
2 2 1
 cos α sin α 2 sin2α 0 0 0 
 
 
 2 2 1 
[Ts ] =  0 0 0 cos α sin α − sin2α 
 2 
 
 1 1 1 
0 0 0 − sin2α sin2α − cos2α
2 2 2
(3.4.73)
and
· µ ¶ ¸T
∂u ∂v ∂u ∂v ∂ 2w ∂ 2w ∂ 2w
{²̄s } = + − − 2
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x ∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂x ∂y
(3.4.74)
Once the strain vector of the stiffener is expressed in terms of the dis-
placement components at the mid-plane of the plate, the same displace-
ment shape function of the plate element is used which yields the stiff-
ness matrix of the stiffener in terms of the nodal parameters of the plate
element and by this process, the compatibility between the plate and the
stiffener element is retained.
It may be observed from Eqs.(3.4.74) and (3.4.10) that
{²̄s } = {²(x, y)p } (3.4.75)
Hence using the same interpolation functions given in Eq.(3.4.4) and

Eq.(3.3.4), the Eq.(3.4.74) can be expressed with the help of Eq.(3.3.22)
as
{²̄s } = [Bp ]{δp } (3.4.76)
Combining Eqs.(3.4.72) and (3.4.76), yields
{²s } = [Ts ] [Bp ]{δp } = [Bs ] {δp } (3.4.77)
where
[Bs ] = [Ts ][Bp ] (3.4.78)
η
(-1,+1) (+1,+1)
(-1,-1) (+1,-1)
Figure 3.7: Stiffener orientation in the mapped domain
3.4.3.4 Elastic Stiffness Matrix of the Stiffener Element

Following the steps mentioned earlier for the plate element, the elastic
stiffness matrix of the stiffener element is given by
Z
[Ks ]e = [Bs ]T [Ds ][Bs ] dl (3.4.79)
Here l is taken along the stiffener axis in x-y plane. This can be rewritten
as Z
[Ks ]e = [Bs ]T [Ds ][Bs ] |Jst | dλ (3.4.80)
where λ is in the direction of the stiffener axis in the ξ-η plane as shown
in the Fig. 3.7 and the Jacobian |Jst | is given by
dl
|Jst | = (3.4.81)
dλ
The Jacobian is calculated by the ratio of the actual length to the length
on the mapped domain considering any segment of the stiffener and is
constant when a straight line or a circular arc in the x-y plane is mapped
dl
into a straight line. But in case of a complex mapping, the ratio
dλ
may change from point to point. The integration is carried out along the
stiffener axis which is λ in the ξ-η plane by taking Gauss points on the
mapped stiffener axis.
3.4.3.5 Consistent Mass Matrix of the Stiffener Element
The consistent mass matrix for the arbitrarily oriented stiffener element
is formulated following the steps similar to that of the plate element and
it can be written as:
Z
[Ms ] = ρ [N ]T [L]T [Ts ]T [Ps ][Ts ][L][N ] |Jst | dλ (3.4.82)
where
 
2
 As cos α As sinαcosα 0 −Ss cosα 0 
 
 
 
 As sinα cosα As sin2 α 0 −Ss sinα 0 
 
 
 
[Ps ] = 
 0 0 As 0 0  (3.4.83)

 
 
 
 Ss cosα −Ss sinα 0 Is 0 
 
 
 
0 0 0 0 Js
 
 1 0 0 0 0

 
 
 
 0 1 0 0 0 
 
 
 
[Ts ] = 
 0 0 1 0 0  (3.4.84)
 
 
 
 0 0 0 cosα sinα 
 
 
 
0 0 0 −sinα cosα
and the matrices [L] and [N ] are given by the Eqs.(3.4.21) and (3.4.22)
respectively.
3.4.3.6 Geometric Stiffness Matrix of the Stiffener Element

The stiffener strain for an x-directional stiffener is expressed as:
 
 ∂U   µ ¶2 µ ¶2 

 
  1 ∂W 1 ∂U 

 ∂x   
 + 


 
 
 


 
 
 2 ∂x 2 ∂x 

 ∂V   
{²s } = ∂x   + 0

   
 (3.4.85)

 
 
 

 ∂W 
    


  
  


 ∂x   0
= {²sE } + {²sG }
The field variables are expressed as:
 
  

 U  
  ∂w 

  
  −z 

 
 
 ∂x 



 
   

{f } = V = ∂w (3.4.86)
   −z

 
 
 ∂y 



 
 
 


 W 
 
 


 
 w
Substituting the values of U, V and W in the expression for {²sG }, yields

 µ 2 ¶2 µ ¶2 

 z 2
∂ w 1 ∂w 


 + 


 2 ∂x 2 2 ∂x 


 

{²sG } = 0

 


 
 (3.4.87)

 


 

0
1
= {θs }T {θs }
2
where ½ ¾
T ∂ 2w ∂w
{θs } = −z 2 (3.4.88)
∂x ∂x
It can be shown that
δ {²sG } = {θs }T δ {θs } (3.4.89)
{θs } can be written as:
{θs } = [HsG ] {²̄sG } (3.4.90)
where  
1 0
[HsG ] =  (3.4.91)
0 −z
and ½ ¾
T ∂w ∂ 2w
{²̄sG } = (3.4.92)
∂x ∂x2
{²̄sG } can be expressed as:
 
 ∂w 

 ∂x  
{²̄sG } = = [BsG ] {δp } (3.4.93)
 ∂ 2w 
 
 
∂x2
Hence
{θs } = [HsG ] [BsG ] {δp } (3.4.94)
The internal work done by the distributed internal stresses can be ex-
pressed as:
ZZZ
δW = {²sG }T σx dx dy dz
ZZZ
=δ {δp }T [BsG ]T [HsG ]T σx [HsG ] [BsG ] {δp } dx dy dz
(3.4.95)
In the case of the stiffener along the x-direction, the integration with
respect to y and z can be performed with the innermost integral only,
putting y-coordinates in the [BsG ] matrix.
   
1 0  1 0 
[HsG ]T σx [HsG ] =  σx
0 −z 0 −z
  (3.4.96)
= σx 1 0 
0 z2
Hence,
 
ZZ
σx As 0 
[HsG ]T σx [HsG ] dy dz = 
0 σx Is (3.4.97)
= [σs ]
If the stiffener coordinate axis is at an angle of α with respect to the

global x-axis (Fig. 3.5) then with the help of the Eq.(3.4.58) the deriva-
tives with respect to the x-y and the x0 -y 0 coordinates are related as:
 

 ∂w



 


 ∂x



 


 ∂w  

 

  
 
∂w  
 ∂y  


  
 ∂x0   
 ∂ w 
2

= [TsG 1 ] − 2 (3.4.98)

 ∂ 2
w 
 
 ∂x  
  
 

∂x 0 2 
 ∂ w 
2 

 

 − 2  

 ∂y 


 


 

 ∂ w 
2


 2 
∂x ∂y
where
 
cos α sin α 0 0 0
 
[TsG 1 ] =   (3.4.99)
2 2
0 0 − cos α − sin α sin α cos α
The derivatives with respect to the x-y coordinates can be expressed in

terms of ξ-η coordinates such as:
   

 ∂w 
 
 ∂w 


 
 
 


 ∂x 
 
 ∂ξ 


 
 
 


 ∂w 
 
 ∂w 


 
 
 


 
 
 


 ∂y 
 
 ∂η 


 
 
 

 ∂ 2w   ∂ 2w 
− 2 = [TsG 2 ] (3.4.100)

 ∂x   
 ∂ξ 2 

 
 
 


 ∂ 2
w 
 
 ∂ w 
2 

 
 
 


 − 
 
 

 ∂y  2
 
 ∂η 2 


 
 
 


 
 
 

 ∂ 2
w 
 
 ∂ w 
2


 2   
∂x ∂y ∂ξ ∂η
where
 
−1
[J] [0]
 
[TsG 2 ] =   (3.4.101)
[TF 1 ] [TF 2 ]
and [J] is the Jacobian and [TF 1 ], [TF 2 ] being given by the Eq.(3.3.18).
Hence from the Eq.(3.4.93)
 

 ∂Nw 


 


 ∂ξ 


 


 ∂Nw 


 


 


 ∂η 


 

 ∂2N 
w
{²̄sG } = [TsG 1 ] [TsG 2 ] 2
{δp }

 ∂ξ 


 


 ∂ 2 Nw 


 


 
 (3.4.102)

 ∂η 2 


 


 


 ∂ 2 Nw 

 
∂ξ ∂η
£ ¤
= [TsG1 ] [TsG2 ] B̄sG {δp }
= [BsG ] {δp }
The geometric stiffness matrix is given by

Z
[KsG ]e = [BsG ]T [σs ] [BsG ] dx
Z
£ ¤T £ ¤
= B̄sG [TsG 2 ]T [TsG 1 ]T [σs ] [TsG 1 ] [TsG 2 ] B̄sG |Jst | dλ
(3.4.103)
3.4.4 Boundary Conditions for the Stiffened Plate

The boundary conditions for the arbitrary stiffened plate are considered
following the same procedure as adopted in the case of the arbitrary bare
plate. Referring to the Fig. 3.3, the relationship between the in-plane
displacements in the local and the global coordinates at the point P is
given by:
    
 u  cosβ sinβ   u 
1
= (3.4.104)
 v  −sinβ cosβ  v 
1
where u1 and v1 are the displacements along the direction of x1 and y1

respectively.
The displacements at the point P which may be restrained can be
expressed as
   
   u1  
 u1 
   


 
 
 


 
 
 


 
 
 


 
 
 v 


 v1  

1 


 
 
 


 
  

{fbp } = w = w (3.4.105)

   


 
 
 


 
 
 ∂w  

 
 
 


 θ n 
 
 ∂x1  

 
  


 
 
 


 
 
 ∂w 

 θ    

t
∂y1
where θn and θt represent the slopes which are normal and transverse to
the boundaries respectively as in the case of bare plate.
Substituting from Eqs.(3.3.50) and (3.4.104), the Eq.(3.4.105) can be
written as
  

 u 

cosβ sinβ 0 0 0  
  

  

  

  

  

 −sinβ cosβ 0 0 0  v 

  

  

  

  

  w
{fbp } =  0 0 1 0 0  (3.4.106)
  

  
  

  

  ∂w 

 0 0 0 cosβ sinβ  

  ∂x  
  

  

 




 ∂w  

0 0 0 −sinβ cosβ  
∂y
Expressing Eq.(3.4.106) in terms of the shape functions;
{fbp } = [Nbp ] {δp } (3.4.107)
where
 
 
 [Nu ] 



 

cosβ sinβ 0 0 0  
  

  

  

  [Nv ] 

  

 −sinβ cosβ 0 0 0  

  

  

  

  [Nw ] 

 
[Nbp ] =  0 0 1 0 0 
  
  

  
∂[Nw ] 
  

 
 ∂x 


 0 0 0 cosβ sinβ  
  

  

  

 
 ∂[Nw ] 



 
0 0 0 −sinβ cosβ 

 ∂y  


 
(3.4.108)
The reaction components per unit length along the boundary line due
to the elastic springs corresponding to the possible boundary displace-
ments given in Eq.(3.4.105) can be expressed as
 
  

 



 ku u1  



 fku 
 
 


 
 
 


 
 
 


 
 
 k v 


 fkv 
 
 v 1 


 
 
 


 
 
 

   
{fkp } = = k w w (3.4.109)
 fkw   

 
 
 


 
 
 


 
 
 k θ 


 fkα 
 
 α n 


 
 
 


 
 
 


 
 
 


 f 
   k β θ t 

kβ 
 

where ku , kv , kw , kα and kβ are the spring constants or restraint coeffi-

cients corresponding to the direction of u1 , v1 , w, θn and θt respectively.
The Eq.(3.4.109) can be rewritten by combining the Eqs.(3.4.105),

(3.4.106) and (3.4.107) as
{fkp } = [Nkp ]{δp } (3.4.110)

where
  

 [Nu ] 

k cosβ ku sinβ 0 0 0  
 u  

  

  

  

  
[Nv ] 
 −kv sinβ kv cosβ 0 0 0 




  
  

  

  

  [Nw ]
[Nkp ] =  0 0 kw 0 0 
  
  

  

  
∂[Nw ] 
  


 0 0 0 kα cosβ kα sinβ  
 

 ∂x 



  

  

 




 ∂[Nw ] 


0 0 0 −kβ sinβ kβ cosβ  
∂y
(3.4.111)
Following the procedure similar to the case of bare plate the stiffness
of the boundary for the stiffened plate can be expressed as
Z
[Kbp ] = [Nbp ]T [Nkp ] |Jb | dλ1 (3.4.112)
3.4.5 Stresses in the Stiffener

Once the nodal displacements of the stiffened plate are known, the stress
resultants of the stiffener as expressed in the Eq.(3.4.69) can be obtained
with the help of the Eq.(3.4.68) and Eq.(3.4.67).
The stresses in the stiffener at a depth z from the mid-plane of the
plate can be computed as:
Fs Fs e Ms
σz = − z+ z (3.4.113)
As Is Is
3.5 Consistent Load Vector 97
where Fs , Ms , As and Is denote the axial force, bending moment, cross-

sectional area and moment of inertia respectively of the stiffener and e is
the eccentricity of the stiffener with respect to the plate mid-plane.
3.5 Consistent Load Vector

The nodal load vector for an element when subjected to a uniformly dis-
tributed load of intensity q(x, y) can be obtained by the expression
ZZ
{P }e = [Nj ]T q dx dy
Z +1Z +1 (3.5.1)
T
= [Nj ] q |J| dx dy
−1 −1
where [Nj ] is the displacement function for the j-th node and |J| is the
determinant of the Jacobian. The global load {P } can be obtained by
assembling the nodal load vector {P }e of each of the elements. When
concentrated load is present at any of the nodal points, the load value is
added to the corresponding degree of freedom of that particular node.
3.6 Solution Procedures

The solution procedures adopted in the analysis of the arbitrary stiffened
and bare plates for static, dynamic and stability analyses are presented in
this section.
3.6.1 Static Analysis

The elastic stiffness matrices of the plate as well as the stiffener elements
are computed and they are assembled into the global elastic stiffness ma-
trix [K] which is stored by adopting the skyline storage (Zienkiewicz and
Taylor [198]) technique. In this process of storage, the matrix is stored

in a single array eliminating the zero entries if any within the band thus
reducing the storage requirement of the computer. The equation of equi-
librium for the static analysis given by the Eq.(3.1.1) is solved following
the Cholesky decomposition method by adopting the algorithm of Corr
and Jennings [39].
3.6.2 Free Vibration Analysis

The equilibrium equation for undamped free vibration is given by the
Eq.(3.1.2).
Considering the motion as harmonic the solution of the equation (3.1.2)
is
{δ} = H{ψ}eiωt (3.6.1)
where {ψ} is a normalized vector of the order of {δ}, H is the weight-

ing parameter of {ψ} and ω is the frequency of vibration in radians per
second. On substitution the equilibrium equation becomes
[K]{ψ} = ω 2 [M ]{ψ} (3.6.2)
This is a generalized eigenproblem and is solved by the simultaneous it-

eration algorithm of Corr and Jennings [39] and its solution is the eigen-
value ω 2 and the eigenvector {ψ}. The same skyline storage scheme as
earlier is adopted for the global elastic stiffness matrix [K] and the mass
matrix [M ].
3.6 Solution Procedures 99
3.6.3 Stability Analysis

The equilibrium equation for the stability analysis is given by the Eq.(3.1.3).
Since the matrix [K] is positive definite, it can be decomposed as:
[K] = [L][L]T (3.6.3)
where [L] is a lower triangular matrix. Hence Eq.(3.1.3) can be rewritten

as:
1
[L]−1 [KG ] [L]−T [L]T {δ} = [L]T {δ} (3.6.4)
λ
The above equation represents a standard eigenvalue problem which is
solved by the simultaneous iteration algorithm of Corr and Jennings [39]
and the eigenvalues corresponding to the lowest buckling loads are ob-
tained.
Chapter - 4
COMPUTER
IMPLEMENTATION
4.1 Introduction
The finite element method has been established as a powerful numeri-
cal tool because of its broad spectrum of generality and its ease of appli-
cability to rather more complex and difficult problems showing greater
efficacy in its solution than that of any other existing similar techniques.
This advantage of the method over others has led various research orga-
nizations and modern industries to endeavour the development of general
purpose software packages and other in-house codes for solving practical
problems of more complex nature. In an effort to make the method more
powerful and to address more complicated problems, the finite element
analysis programmes themselves become extremely complex and com-
putationally involved. These programmes are available as black box
modules which are to be used with the help of CAD programmes. These
conventional programmes cannot easily be modified to perform a desired
task necessitating redesign and rebuild of finite element libraries to suit
one’s need. Hence there is a requirement for finite element analysis pro-
grammes to be easily modifiable to introduce new analysis procedures
101
102 COMPUTER IMPLEMENTATION
and new kinds of design of structural components or even emerging tech-

nology of new materials whenever needed. In the present investigation,
the computer codes have been generated with such modularity which is
amenable to easy modification whenever the need arises.
Throughout all these years the finite element codes have been de-
veloped employing procedural language such as FORTRAN which is
unstructured in its nature. Now there is a trend to pay attention to the
verification, portability and reusability of the computer programmes dur-
ing the process of their development and to the possibility of the use of
other software products . However, FORTRAN does not have the pro-
vision to meet all these requirements. The C++ language, apart from its
object-oriented programming approach allows for more efficient software
development, because it includes the dynamic memory allocation, decla-
ration of datatypes, modularization and the pointer concept. Though,
the benefit of object-oriented programming has not been utilized in the
present investigation, but the other advantages of the language as men-
tioned above have been fully utilized. Few of the utilities are of utmost
importance which are provided by Press et al. [150] and are used exten-
sively in the codes generated for the present investigation. Apart from
these, for efficiency of the finite element programmes, advance features
like automatic mesh generation, automatic nodal connectivity and skyline
storage scheme have been implemented in the computer codes.
4.2 Application Domain

The Computer Programmes have been developed in the present investi-
gation by making use of the C++ programming language to include a
wide spectrum of application domain. They have the analytical modules
to solve the following types of problems:
4.2 Application Domain 103
1. Static analysis of arbitrary bare plates - to evaluate displace-

ments and stress resultants at salient points of the bare plates of
arbitrary shape.
2. Free vibration analysis of arbitrary bare plates - to extract the

natural frequencies (eigenvalues) and the corresponding mode shapes
(eigenvectors) of the structure.
3. Stability analysis of arbitrary bare plates - to estimate the elastic

buckling load and the buckled mode shapes of the structure from
the eigenvalue solution.
4. Static analysis of arbitrary stiffened plates - to determine the

displacements and stress resultants at various points of the plate
skin and to evaluate stiffener stresses at different sections of the
eccentric and concentric stiffeners.
5. Free vibration analysis of arbitrary stiffened plates - to deter-

mine the natural frequencies of the stiffened plated structures along
with its corresponding mode shapes.
6. Stability analysis of arbitrary stiffened plates - to assess the

elastic buckling load of the structures and their buckling mode
shapes.
Computer programme codes have been written to incorporate vari-

ous boundary and loading conditions of the structures. The modularity
of the programme development has been retained by employing differ-
ent modules in the shape of different C++ functions performing specific
functionalities of the programmes.
4.3 Description of the Programme

The finite element procedure involves three basic steps in terms of the
computation carried out which may be termed as:
• Preprocessor
• Processor
• Postprocessor
The different functions of these steps have been elaborated in the Fig. 4.1.
4.3.1 Preprocessor
This module of the programme reads the necessary information about the
geometry and boundary conditions of the plate, material properties, load-
ing configuration and its magnitude, stiffener orientation and its prop-
erties etc. Also in this module, all the nodal coordinates and the nodal
connectivity are generated. The different functions which are used in
this module are described briefly in the subsequent sections. A flowchart
of the preprocessor unit has been shown in the Fig. 4.2.
4.3.1.1 function input()

The following variables are used in the function input() to generate the
data required for the analysis of the bare and the stiffened plates.
4.3 Description of the Programme 105
START
PREPROCESSOR
Read the Input Data
Generate the mesh
Generate Nodal Connectivity
Read the Stiffener Position and Orientation
PROCESSOR
Generate Element Matrices for the Plate
Generate Element Matrices for the Stiffener if required
Generate Boundary Stiffness Matrices for the Boundaries
Assemble the Matrices to Global Matrix
Sole the
Solve theEquations
Equationsfor
forDifferent
differentAnalyses
Analyses
1. Static Analysis of Bare Plates
2. Free Vibration Analysis of Bare Plates
3. Stability Analysis of Bare Plates
4. Static Analysis of Stiffened Plates
5. Free Vibration Analysis of Stiffened Plates
6. Stability Analysis of Stiffened Plates
POSTPROCESSOR
Echo the Input Data
print the Output
END
Figure 4.1: Basic Elements of the Computer Programmes

bpoin : Number of points on the boundary for the mapping

of the plate geometries
bcord : Cartesian coordinates of the boundary points
nnode : Number of node in the element
ndofn : Number of degrees of freedom per node
ngaus : Number of gauss points
nxi : Number of mesh in s-direction in the mapped domain
neta : Number of mesh in t-direction in the mapped domain
nelem : Number of elements
npoin : Number of nodal points generated for the mapping
of the elements
nodes : Number of nodes for the analysis
tdof : Number of total degrees of freedom
young : Young’s modulous of elasticity
poiss : Poisson’s ratio
thick : thickness of the plate
ntype : Shape of the plate geometry
=1 Square plate
=2 Rectangular plate
=3 Annular plate
=4 Circular plate
=5 Skew plate
=6 Sector plate
=7 Elliptical plate
=8 Trapezoidal plate
=9 Triangular plate
stif : Index for bare or stiffened plate

=0 Bare plate analysis
=1 Stiffened plate analysis
soln : Index for type of analysis
=1 Static analysis
=2 Free vibration analysis
=3 Buckling analysis
4.3.1.2 function nodgen()

The different variables used in the function nodgen() which is used to
generate the peripheral nodes in each of the element’s boundary are as
presented below.
mnods : Nodal numbers in the element boundary
ielem : Element counter
inode : Node counter
4.3.1.3 function stcod()

The function stcod() is used to generate the nodal coordinates in the
mapped s-t domain of the plate. The different variables used in the func-
tion are:
coord : Coordinates in the mapped domain
xi-divn : Length of element in s-direction in mapped domain
eta-divn : Length of element in t-direction in mapped domain
1
xi-small : of xi-divn
3
1
eta-small : of eta-divn
3
input()
bpoin, bcord, nnode, ndofn, ngaus, nxi,
neta, nelem, npoin, nodes, tdof, young,
poiss, thick, ntype, stif, soln
nodgen() xycod() sfr1()

mnods, ielem, inode xynod,xi,eta shape1, deriv1
stcod() rgdplt()
coord, xi-divn, dmatx1, young,
eta-divn, xi-small, poiss, thick
eta-small
connect() stifin()
lnods w, d, e
band() rgdstf()
hband, sky As, Ss, Is, G
Js, dmatx2
Figure 4.2: Preprocessor unit of the computer codes

4.3.1.4 function connect()
The function connect() generates the nodal connectivity in the elements.

The variables used along with others is:
lnods : Node numbers associated with the element
4.3.1.5 function band()
The function band() computes the half bandwidth of the matrix and the
skyline value for the skyline storage scheme. It has the following vari-
ables:
hband : Half bandwidth of the matrix
sky : Skyline value for the skyline storage
4.3.1.6 function xycod()
The function xycod() generates all the nodal x-y coordinates of the ele-
ments. The variables used are:
xynod : Cartesian coordinates of the node
xi : s-coordinate of the node in mapped domain
eta : t-coordinate of the node in mapped domain
4.3.1.7 function sfr1()
The function sfr1() calculates the cubic serendipity shape functions, their
derivatives and elements of the Jacobian matrix. The different variables
in this function are:
shape1 : Cubic serendipity shape functions
deriv1 : Shape function derivatives
4.3.1.8 function rgdplt()
The function rgdplt() has been used for computing the rigidity matrix of
the plate element. It comprises the following variables:
dmatx1 : Elements of the plate rigidity matrix
young : Young’s modulous of elasticity
poiss : Poisson’s ratio
thick : Plate thickness
4.3.1.9 function stifin()
The function stifin() reads the necessary information of the stiffeners. It

has the following variables:
w : Width of the stiffener
d : Depth of the stiffener
e : Eccentricity of the stiffener
4.3.1.10 function rgdstf()
The function rgdstf() calculates the different elements of the rigidity ma-
trix of the stiffener. The following variables are used in the function:
As : Cross-sectional area of the stiffener
Ss : First moment of area of the stiffener
Is : Second moment of area of the stiffener
G : Modulus of rigidity of the stiffener
Js : Torsional constant of the stiffener
dmatx2 : Elements of the stiffener rigidity matrix
4.3.2 Processor
This module of the programmes performs the following tasks:
1. Generation of the element matrices.
2. Assembly of the element matrices into global matrices.
3. Imposition of the boundary conditions.
4. Solution of the algebraic equations for static analysis of plates to

obtain nodal unknowns and the computation of the stress resultants
for the skin and the stiffener at all the nodes.
5. Determination of eigenvalues and eigenvectors for the free vibra-

tion and buckling analyses using simultaneous vector iteration tech-
nique.
A flowchart showing the processor unit is presented in the Fig. 4.3.

The various modular functions which are used in this processor unit are
briefly presented herein.
4.3.2.1 function form-stif-mass-geom()

The function form-stif-mass-geom() calls the other functions in turn for
the processing of each of the elements.
4.3.2.2 function elm-stif-mass-geom()

This function generates the elastic and geometric stiffness and mass ma-
trices for the plate element.
sfr1() jacob1() sfr2() bmat()
elm-stif-mass-geom() elm-stf-mass-geom() stfin()

Computes element matrices Computes element matrices
for the plate for the stiffener
global-stif-mass-geom() global-stf-mass-geom()
bnd-stif()
global() global-stif()
Bare Plate 0 1 Stiffened Plate

stif
Analysis Analysis
soln
1 2 3
Static Free Vibration Buckling
Analysis Analysis Analysis
stop end
Figure 4.3: Processor unit of the computer codes

4.3.2.3 function elm-stf-mass-geom()
This function generates the elastic and geometric stiffness matrices and
the mass matrices of the stiffener elements.
4.3.2.4 function global-stif-mass-geom()
The assembly of all the element matrices of the plate elements into the
global ones are carried out through this function.
4.3.2.5 function global-stf-mass-geom()
The assembly of all the element matrices of the stiffener elements into
the global mtrices are performed through this function.
4.3.2.6 function global()
This is a common function called by the individual functions to assemble

all the element matrices into global matrix.
4.3.2.7 function elm-load()
This function calculates the consistent element load vector and takes into
account any application of concentrated load on the plate.
4.3.2.8 function gbl-load()
The generated element load vectors are assembled into global load vector
using this function.
4.3.2.9 function bnd-stif()

The stiffness of the boundary lines of the plate element if it happens to
be one of the elements in the periphery is computed in this function.
4.3.2.10 function sfr2()

This module calculates the displacement shape functions and their deriva-
tives.
4.3.2.11 function bmat()

This function evaluates the matrix for the strain-displacement relation-
ship.
4.3.2.12 function dbmat()

The stress resultants are computed in this function.
4.3.2.13 function solve()

The function solve() is used to solve the simultaneous algebraic equations
generated in the process of analysis. The equilibrium equations are in the
form of [A]{X} = {B}, where [A] is the global stiffness matrix, {B}
is the global load vector and {X} is the nodal unknown vector whose
solution is sought. This has been solved using Choleski factorization by
performing decomposition, forward elimination and backward substitu-
tion with the help of the functions decomp(), forsol(), and backsol().
4.3.2.14 function r8usiv()

This function is used for the eigenvalue solution. Using this module, a
simultaneous iteration algorithm has been adopted for the free vibration
and buckling analyses. The input data to this function are the global elas-
tic stiffness matrix gstif, the global geometric stiffness matrix gbl-geom,
the global mass matrix gbl-mass and the corresponding pointer vectors.
Through this function the eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenvec-
tors are extracted. The required number of modes of vibration or buckling
is to be specified by the user. The function requires three arrays u, v and
w, of size (n,m) where n is the total degrees of freedom and m is a value
higher than the number of modes. The numerical value of m has been
considered as 1.5 times the number of modes in the present programme.
The tolerance value has been set to 10−6 and the maximum number of
iterations to 40. The initial trial vectors are generated from a random
number generator. The r8usiv() module consists of a number of func-
tions which are presented below with brief descriptions of their function-
alities and sequence in which they are called inside the function r8usiv().
function r8ured() : decomposes a symmetric matrix into lower
triangular matrix
function r8uran() : generates random trial vectors
function r8uort() : orthonormilises the vectors by the Schmidt
process
function r8ubac() : solves the equation [l]T {v} = {u} by
backward substitution
function r8upre() : performs premultiplication in the form
{v} = {l}{u}
function r8ufor() : solves equation {l}{v} = {u} by forward
substitution
function r8udec() : sorts the vectors {u} and {v} according to the
descending order of eigenvalue prediction
function r8uran() : generates trial vectors in {w}
function r8uort() : orthonormalizes {w}
function r8uerr() : estimates the vector errors in successive trials
A flowchart of this module is shown in the Fig. 4.4
4.3.3 Postprocessor
In this part of the programme , all the input data are echoed to check for
their accuracy. The function print-disp() is used to print the output data
in terms of displacements, moments, stresses, eigenvalues etc. depend-
ing on the type of analysis carried out. The results are stored in a series
of separate output files for each category of problems analyzed and those
values are used to prepare tables and graphs etc.
Elastic Stiffness Matrix

Geometric Stiffness Matrix
Mass Matrix
r8ured()
r
enter 8 r8uran()
u
s r8uort()
i
v r8ubac()
r8upre()
r8ufor()
Computation of
Natural frequencies
r8udec()
and buckling load
r8uerr()
return
end
Figure 4.4: Flowchart for free vibration and buckling anal-

ysis
Chapter - 5
NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
5.1 Introduction
The stiffened as well as bare plates with arbitrary geometries have got
an important role to play as one of the structural elements in the modern
day structures. These plates having various boundary conditions are sub-
jected to varieties of loading for which the stress analysis is to be carried
out. The present day trend for the stress analysis is to use some software
packages for this type of analysis. But these commercial softwares have
got the limitation in the sense that they are inefficient to handle the arbi-
trary orientation of the stiffener as they demand the mesh division to be
along the stiffener. Moreover, they are unable to implement the bound-
ary conditions successfully for a plate of arbitrary configuration having
a curved edge. The element developed here is very much efficient to ad-
dress the problems pertaining to the arbitrarily oriented stiffeners as well
as the curved-boundary arbitrary plates. In this chapter a large number
of numerical examples for the stiffened and bare plates of arbitrary con-
figurations having various boundary conditions and subjected to various
loading conditions are presented as a rigorous test to study the perfor-
mance of the proposed element.
The following types of problems are considered in this chapter:
119
120 NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
1. Arbitrary Bare Plates
(a) Static Analysis

(b) Free Vibration Analysis
(c) Stability Analysis
2. Arbitrary Stiffened Plates
(a) Static Analysis

(b) Free Vibration Analysis
(c) Stability Analysis
The results obtained by this present formulation are compared with

the theoretical and/or experimental ones published by the other investi-
gators wherever possible. The computer programmes are written in C++
and have been run in the HP - UX 9000/819 work station and ORIGIN
200. Unless otherwise mentioned the mesh division used in the present
analysis is 16 × 16 considering the whole plate for almost all the geomet-
rical configurations.
5.2 Arbitrary Bare Plates

The problems relating to plates of arbitrary configurations without any
stiffeners are considered when they are subjected to static, dynamic and
buckling loads and are presented in the subsequent sections.
5.2.1 Static Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates

The plates with various geometries such as square, rectangular, skew, an-
nular, circular are analyzed under the static load to test the accuracy of the
5.2 Arbitrary Bare Plates 121
y
1 12 11 10
b/3
2 9
b/3
3 8
b/3
x
4 5 6 7
a/3 a/3 a/3
Figure 5.1: Location of the boundary nodal points of a rect-

angular plate
present method. The plates are subjected to uniformly distributed and/or

concentrated static load and the results obtained are compared with the
published ones wherever possible.
5.2.1.1 Rectangular Plates Under Uniformly Distributed Load

Rectangular plates of various aspect ratios subjected to uniformly dis-
tributed load are analyzed and the factors α, β and β1 for the maximum
deflection and the maximum moments in x and y directions are compared
with the analytically obtained results of Timoshenko and Woinowsky-
Krieger [185] in the Table 5.1. The agreement between the results is ex-
cellent. The location of the twelve number of the boundary nodal points
of the rectangular plate which are used for the mapping to the Master
Plate is shown in the Fig. 5.1.
Table 5.1: Numerical factors α, β and β1 for uniformly

loaded simply supported rectangular plates
qa4
wmax = α (Mx )max = β q a2 (My )max = β1 q a2
D
b
α β β1
a
Present Ref. [185] Present Ref. [185] Present Ref. [185]
1.0 0.00407 0.00406 0.0480 0.0479 0.0480 0.0479
1.5 0.00773 0.00772 0.0813 0.0812 0.0499 0.0498
2.0 0.01015 0.01013 0.1020 0.1017 0.0464 0.0464
5.2.1.2 Rectangular Plates Under Concentrated Load

The factors α for the maximum deflection of the rectangular plates of var-
ious aspect ratios subjected to a central concentrated load P are computed
and compared with the analytical results of Timoshenko and Woinowsky-
Krieger [185] in the Table 5.2. The results are found to compare well.
Table 5.2: Numerical factors α for simply supported rectan-

gular plates with central concentrated load
µ ¶
P a2
wmax = α
D
b
1.0 1.2 1.6 2.0 3.0
a
Present 0.01164 0.01360 0.01575 0.01659 0.01704
Ref. [185] 0.01160 0.01353 0.01570 0.01651 0.01690
5.2.1.3 All Edges Clamped Rhombic Plates Under UDL

The skew rhombic plates with all the edges clamped and subjected to
uniformly distributed load are analyzed for different skew angles and the
obtained results for the deflection and the principal moments at the cen-
tre are compared with those of Iyengar and Srinivasan [70], Ramesh et
al. [153], Morley [120], GangaRao and Chaudhary [53] and Butalia et
al. [29] in the Table 5.3. Quite fair agreement has been obtained with all
the results even up to the skew angle of 75◦ except those of Ramesh et
al. [153] which are comparatively less than all other values.
Table 5.3: Deflection and moments at the centre of the all
edges clamped skew rhombic plates under UDL
skew Source of wmax Mpl max Mpl min

qa4
angle Results = × 10−2 = qa2 × 10−2 = qa2 × 10−2
D
Present 1.8033 9.1711 8.1365
Iyengar et al. [70] 1.7968 9.2520 -
o
15 Ramesh et al. [153] 1.7950 - -
Morley [120] 1.7968 9.2520 -
Butalia et al. [29] 1.7948 9.2207 8.1785
Present 1.2360 7.9714 6.2284
Iyengar et al. [70] 1.2299 8.000 -
o
30 Ramesh et al. [153] 1.2258 - -
Morley [120] 1.2304 - -
GangaRao and
Chaudhary [53] 1.2304 - -
Butalia et al. [29] 1.2281 7.9906 6.2273
continued . . . . . .
. . . . . . continued from previous page

qa4
D
Present 0.6068 5.8443 3.9521
Iyengar et al. [70] 0.6018 - -
45o Ramesh et al. [153] 0.5952 - -
Morley [120] 0.6032 - -
Butalia et al. [29] 0.5997 5.827 3.8933
Present 0.1747 3.2903 1.8465
Iyengar et al. [70] 0.1717 - -
60o Ramesh et al. [153] 0.1638 - -
GangaRao and
Chaudhary [53] 0.1728 - -
Butalia et al. [29] 0.1704 3.2602 1.7639
Present 0.0147 1.0042 0.4065
Iyengar et al. [70] 0.0144 - -
75o Ramesh et al. [153] 0.0120 - -
Butalia et al. [29] 0.0143 0.9998 0.3942
5.2.1.4 All Edges Simply Supported Rhombic Plates Under

UDL
The same rhombic plates which are analyzed in the previous example are
considered here when subjected to uniformly distributed load but with the
edges being simply supported. The deflection and the principal moments
at the centre of the plates are compared with the results of GangaRao and
Chaudhary [53], Morley [119], Argyris [8], Rossow [156], Jirousek [71]
and Butalia et al. [29] in the Table 5.4. The results for the skew angles
45◦ and less have compared well with those of others. The results for
skew angle 60◦ has deviated from others, but it is closer to that of Butalia
et al. [29]. Even the the 75◦ angle result is close to the result of Butalia
et al. [29]. The location of the boundary nodal points of the skew plate is
shown in the Fig. 5.2.
The different values adopted for the analysis of these plates are:
Length of each side of the rhombic plate (2a) = 8
Thickness of the plate (t) = 0.08
Young’s modulus of elasticity (E) = 8.736 × 107
Poisson’s ratio (ν) = 0.3
Uniformly distributed load (q) = 16.0
y
1 12 11 10
θ
b/3
2 9
b/3
3 8
b/3
x
4 5 6 7
a/3 a/3 a/3
θ = Skew angle
Figure 5.2: Location of the boundary nodal points of a skew

plate
Table 5.4: Deflection and moments at the centre of the

all edges simply supported skew rhombic plates
under UDL

qa4
D
Present 5.8238 1.9224 1.7063
GangaRao and
15o Chaudhary [53] 5.8240 - -
Butalia et al. [29] 5.8013 1.9207 1.7082
Present 4.0573 1.6962 1.3185
Morley [119] 4.0960 1.7000 1.3320
GangaRao and
o
30 Chaudhary [53] 4.0960 - -
Butalia et al. [29] 3.9832 1.6790 1.2980
Present 2.0008 1.2579 0.8207
GangaRao and
Chaudhary [53] 2.1120 - -
o
45 Argyris [8] 2.0787 1.2983 0.8570
Butalia et al. [29] 1.9125 1.2266 0.7803
Present 0.5538 0.6948 0.3401
Morley [119] 0.6528 0.7640 0.4320
GangaRao and
Chaudhary [53] 0.6496 - -
60o Argyris [8] 0.6158 0.7668 0.4028
Rossow [156] 0.6526 - -
Jirousek [71] 0.6526 0.7625 0.4343
Butalia et al. [29] 0.5194 0.6662 0.3166
Present 0.0414 0.1860 0.0583
o
75 Butalia et al. [29] 0.0422 0.1906 0.0639
5.2.1.5 Annular Sector Plate Under Concentrated Loads

A perspex model bridge slab presented by Coull and Das [41] is analyzed
and the results are presented in the Table 5.5. The model bridge as shown
in the Fig. 5.3 is having its radial edges simply supported and the curved
ones free. Three cases of loading corresponding to unit load placed at the
inner radius, outer radius and mid radius along the x-axis of the slab are
considered. The comparison of the present results with those of Coull
and Das [41] indicates excellent agreement.
y a ch 10
a/3e 11
3@ 12
Ri

1

9
α/3

2

α/3

x

3
α/3

8
4
5
6
α = included angle 7
Figure 5.3: Annular sector plate showing boundary nodal

points
Table 5.5: Deflection and moments along the mid-span

radial line (x-axis) of the annular sector plate
t = 0.168, ν = 0.35, E = 4.6 × 105
wmax Mr max
Load Radial Present Coull and Present Coull and
Position distance Analysis Das [41] Analysis Das [41]
Unit 7.0 0.01701 0.0169 - -
load 9.0 0.01517 0.01517 0.3278 0.312
at inner 11.0 0.01640 0.0163 0.2055 0.204
radius 13.0 0.01945 0.0195 0.1651 0.186
Unit 7.0 0.01945 0.0194 0.4834 0.465
load 9.0 0.03538 0.0353 0.5058 0.492
at outer 11.0 0.05786 0.0578 0.6239 0.540
radius 13.0 0.08816 0.0876 - -
Unit 7.0 0.01551 0.0155 0.4481 0.437
load 9.0 0.02410 0.0241 0.4884 0.493
at mid 11.0 0.03424 0.0342 0.4804 0.462
radius 13.0 0.04571 0.0457 0.3852 0.384
5.2.1.6 Circular Plate Under Different Loadings and Bound-

ary Conditions
A circular plate of unit radius (Fig. 5.4) subjected to uniformly distributed

load as well as concentrated loads is considered for the analysis. The
results are obtained for the plate having all the edges simply supported
and clamped considering a mesh division of 16 × 16 for the entire plate
and they are compared with the analytical results of Timoshenko and
Woinowsky-Krieger [185] and spline finite strip results of Li et al. [96].

The present results agree well with those obtained from different sources.
Table 5.6: Deflection and moments at the centre of the

circular plate under different loading and bound-
ary conditions
radius (a) = 1.0, D = 1.0, UDL = 1.0, Point load = 1.0
Bounday conditions
Loading Method Simply supported Clamped
conditions w Mr w Mr
Uniformly Present 0.06359 0.2071 0.01549 0.08191
distributed Ref. [185] 0.063702 0.20625 0.015625 0.08125
load
Point Present 0.05066 0.01998
load at Ref. [185] 0.05050 - 0.01989 -
r=0
Point Present 0.02929 0.00719
load at Ref. [96] 0.02934 - 0.00728 -
r = a/2
y
12 11
1 o o 10
15 15 o
30
2 9
x
3 8
4 7
5 6
Figure 5.4: Circular plate with boundary nodal points
5.2.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Arbitrary Bare

Plate
Using the proposed element the bare plates of various shapes such as
square, rectangular, skew, trapezoidal, triangular, annular sector, circular
and elliptical are analyzed to test the performance of the present method
in the free flexural vibration analysis. The plates are tested for various
boundary conditions and the results are compared with the published
ones wherever possible. Usually, the results tabulated are obtained with
a mesh division of 24 × 24. The results are presented in tabular form and
in the presented tables the various abbreviations used are:
SC - Support condition
SS - All edges simply supported
CC - All edges clamped
M - Mode sequence numbers
5.2.2.1 Free Vibration of Rectangular and Square Bare Plates
Rectangular plates with all edges simply supported and clamped hav-
ing aspect ratios of 1 and 0.4 are analyzed and first few frequencies ob-
tained are presented in the Table 5.7. The results are compared with those
of Leissa [87] where the plates having opposite edges simply supported
were dealt by using existing well-known exact solutions and those with
clamped supports by using the Ritz method. The results are found to be
in excellent agreement. The convergence study for the different mesh
sizes for the simply supported rectangular plate of aspect ratio 1 (square
plate) is also presented in the Table 5.8 where excellent convergence of
the element with increasing mesh divisions of the plate is obtained.
Table 5.7: Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ/D)1/2 for rect-

angular plate
a/b SC M 1 2 3 4 5 6
1.0 SS A 19.7392 49.3480 49.3480 78.9568 98.6960 98.6960
B 19.7209 49.2753 49.2753 78.6671 98.5340 98.5340
CC A 35.992 73.413 73.413 108.27 131.64 132.24
B 35.922 73.221 73.221 107.63 131.26 131.91
0.4 SS A 11.4487 16.1862 24.0818 35.1358 41.0576 45.7950
B 11.4352 16.1403 23.9941 34.9980 41.0002 45.5792
CC A 23.648 27.817 35.446 46.702 61.554 63.100
B 23.605 27.669 35.158 46.290 60.997 62.981
A - Leissa [87]; B - Present
5.2.2.2 Free Vibration of Bare Skew Plates

Skew plates of different skew angles (Fig. 5.5) having aspect ratios 1:1
and 1:2 for all edges simply supported and all edges clamped are ana-
lyzed and the results are compared with those of Liew and Lam [99],
Durvasula [47], Mizusawa et al. [116] and Singh and Chakraverty [177]
in Table 5.9 and 5.10. These investigators used various methods like
two-dimensional orthogonal plate function, Galerkin method, B-spline
functions and boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials to obtain
the solution. In the solution for skew angle equal to 60◦ , the mesh size
was increased to 36 × 36. The comparison is reasonably good for this
case with Mizusawa et al. [116]. It may be seen that for this skew angle,
results of Singh and Chakraverty [177] have differed substantially with
those of Mizusawa et al. [116]. The results are in excellent agreement
except in a few cases of higher modes with higher skew angles.
Table 5.8: Convergence of frequency parameters λ =

ωa2 (ρ/D)1/2 for all edges simply supported
square plate
Mode Mesh divisions

4×4 8×8 12 × 12 16 × 16 20 × 20 24 × 24
1 19.1434 19.5785 19.6668 19.6983 19.7129 19.7209
2 and 3 47.2841 48.7307 49.0635 49.1859 49.2436 49.2753
4 71.7430 76.5736 77.8369 78.3142 78.5417 78.6671
5 and 6 94.8795 97.4219 98.0808 98.3394 98.4645 98.5340
Table 5.9: Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρt/D)1/2 of skew

plates for different skew angles (φ) and for a/b =
1.0, ν = 0.3
SC φ M 1 2 3 4 5 6
A 25.069 52.901 72.344 84.780 - -
o
30 B 25.314 52.765 73.006 87.478 130.25 -
C 25.0219 52.5501 71.9398 83.5642 122.031 122.558
A 34.938 66.422 100.87 107.78 - -
o
SS 45 B 36.970 67.023 113.26 114.93 175.28 -
C 35.6320 66.1028 99.9479 108.844 139.403 167.678
o
60 B 73.135 112.64 209.84 233.52 323.51 -
C 66.3452 104.637 147.839 194.135 213.670 245.783
D 46.140 81.691 105.51 119.52 165.80 -
o
30 B 46.166 81.613 105.56 119.98 167.16 -
C 45.9824 81.3367 104.849 118.479 163.449 164.744
D 65.929 106.59 149.031 158.900 199.366 231.936
CC 45o B 66.330 106.77 156.34 160.25 213.58 -
C 65.4204 105.950 146.859 156.569 193.976 228.140
E 120.90 177.75 231.74 292.54 301.81 357.58
60o B 127.06 185.00 282.94 322.61 385.49 -
C 121.274 176.750 229.394 287.224 303.618 347.786
A - Liew and Lam [99]; B - Singh and Chakraverty [177]; C - Present
D - Durvasula [47]; E - Mizusawa et al. [116]
Table 5.10: Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ t/D)1/2 of

skew plates for different skew angles (φ) and for
a/b = 2.0, ν = 0.3
SC φ M 1 2 3 4 5 6
B 64.069 96.558 153.76 218.69 237.12 -
o
30 C 63.633 95.779 146.907 209.653 226.004 252.081
B 93.772 132.09 209.83 302.31 341.10 -
SS 45o C 92.184 129.008 184.164 251.531 323.616 331.569
o
60 B 182.44 240.11 394.64 562.85 675.53 -
C 176.098 223.932 288.403 361.768 445.835 541.334
A 128.74 159.41 213.38 287.36 340.23 -
o
30 B 128.90 159.72 215.29 291.45 341.33 -
C 128.507 158.586 211.808 284.784 339.577 356.976
A 189.18 222.07 279.78 358.94 449.26 -
o
CC 45 B 190.00 223.90 294.67 385.53 509.03 -
C 188.820 220.701 276.869 353.380 439.970 503.396
A 369.28 405.44 470.19 563.36 681.00 -
60o B 372.52 416.35 552.09 707.17 1010.4 -
C 368.474 401.809 460.590 543.175 642.036 749.318
A - Mizusawa et al. [116]; B - Singh and Chakraverty [177]; C - Present
y
x
a
Figure 5.5: A typical skew plate

5.2.2.3 Free Vibration of Trapezoidal Bare Plates

The bare trapezoidal plates having symmetrical geometry for different
a
values of the ratio (Fig. 5.6) are analyzed for simple supports for a
b
mesh division of 16 × 16 and compared with the results of Saliba [160]
and Geannakakes [54] in the Table 5.11 and the results of the clamped
a c
support conditions of the plates having different and ratios (Fig. 5.7)
b b
are compared with those of Liew and Lim [101] in the Table 5.12. Sal-
iba [160] used the superposition techniques whereas Geannakakes [54]
used Rayleigh-Ritz method together with natural coordinate regions and
normalized characteristic orthogonal polynomials. Liew and Lim [101]
solved the problem by using pb-2 Rayleigh-Ritz method. The results of
simply supported plates are in good agreement; those of Geannakakes [54]
are marginally higher. The clamped plate results are also in good agree-
ment except the higher frequencies of higher c/b ratio because of the high
distortion of the elements.
y
12 11

1 10

α 2 9

a
3 8

4

5

6

7 x

Figure 5.6: Trapezoidal plate for simple supports showing

the boundary nodal points
Table 5.11: Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρ/D)1/2 for all

edges simply supported trapezoidal plate
(Ref. Fig. 5.6)

(α = 15o , ν = 0.3)
Mode sequence number
Ref.
a/b 1 2 3 4 5 6
A 0.9512 1.6737 2.8344 3.1078 3.7711 4.5410
1/2 B 0.9517 1.6746 2.8353 3.1090 3.7724 4.5495
C 0.9522 1.6746 2.8323 3.1052 3.7591 4.5380
A 0.7601 0.9147 1.1719 1.5311 1.9912 2.5490
1/4 B 0.7603 0.9150 1.1726 1.5323 2.0620 2.7350
C 0.7600 0.9140 1.1700 1.5272 1.9844 2.5382
A 0.7205 0.7563 0.8159 0.8994 1.0067 1.1377
1/8 B 0.7206 0.7564 0.8163 0.8999 1.0185 1.1729
C 0.7198 0.7535 0.8100 0.8896 0.9925 1.1189
A - Saliba [160]; B - Geannakakes [54]; C - Present
y c

x

b

Figure 5.7: Trapezoidal plate for clamped supports

r
ωa2 ρ
Table 5.12: Frequency parameters λ = for all
2π D
edges clamped trapezoidal plate
(Ref. Fig. 5.7)

Ref.
a/b c/b 1 2 3 4 5 6
1.0 0.2 A 11.34 19.89 23.31 30.34 36.22 39.10
B 11.38 19.93 23.34 30.37 36.19 39.06
0.4 A 9.224 15.58 19.89 24.51 29.19 34.22
B 9.177 14.79 19.82 20.24 27.37 29.02
0.6 A 7.560 13.35 16.71 22.42 23.26 29.64
B 7.164 9.84 14.77 16.64 22.32 23.46
0.8 A 6.444 12.27 13.89 19.44 21.50 25.15
B 5.209 7.43 13.05 13.43 15.99 21.27
1.5 0.2 A 19.21 30.57 42.30 43.70 58.72 60.67
B 19.16 30.44 42.08 43.46 58.32 60.14
0.4 A 16.38 24.45 33.73 37.55 45.30 51.11
B 16.34 24.33 33.09 37.39 41.95 50.75
0.6 A 13.74 19.54 27.93 32.93 39.76 42.05
B 13.69 18.47 22.74 30.12 32.83 41.46
0.8 A 11.44 16.60 25.27 28.29 34.02 37.40
B 11.00 13.11 17.97 26.41 28.19 32.47
2.0 0.2 A 29.12 43.43 59.34 66.76 77.08 90.87
B 29.02 43.17 58.88 66.31 76.36 89.82
0.4 A 25.55 35.91 47.02 59.27 60.59 73.47
B 25.48 35.73 46.69 58.53 60.25 70.86
0.6 A 22.10 28.98 37.03 48.01 54.44 62.53
B 22.05 28.74 34.96 40.99 50.82 54.21
0.8 A 18.72 23.58 31.48 42.99 48.05 55.06
B 18.60 21.49 25.48 33.16 44.41 47.92
A - Liew and Lam [101]; B - Present
1
12
2 11
b 10
3 9
8
x
4 5 6 7
a
Figure 5.8: Right triangular plate with boundary nodal

points
5.2.2.4 Free Vibration of Triangular Bare Plates

The results for the simply supported and clamped right triangular plates
(Fig. 5.8) with different ratios of height (b) to base (a) are compared in the
Table 5.13 with those of Kim and Dickinson [78] and Geannakakes [54].
Kim and Dickinson [78] used Rayleigh-Ritz method but Geannakakes [54]
used Rayleigh-Ritz method along with normalized characteristic orthog-
onal polynomials to obtain the results. The results have compared very
well except few cases of higher frequencies for plates with higher b/a
ratio where the results of Geannakakes [54] are having higher values.
r
2 ρ
Table 5.13: Frequency parameters λ = ωa for trian-
D
gular plates

Ref.
SC b/a 1 2 3 4 5 6
A 49.35 99.76 128.4 169.1 200.3 249.8
1.0 B 49.34 98.69 128.30 167.80 197.46 246.86
C 49.23 98.30 127.51 166.75 195.53 243.80
A 34.28 65.69 91.99 108.0 140.9 161.9
1.5 B 34.28 65.59 91.86 107.48 139.39 162.42
C 34.21 65.35 91.35 106.78 137.85 157.87
A 27.76 49.91 74.85 81.84 107.4 122.2
SS 2.0 B 27.76 49.88 74.88 81.51 108.43 121.65
C 27.70 49.69 74.15 80.91 105.05 118.88
A 24.15 41.15 60.65 72.28 84.92 104.2
2.5 B 24.14 41.14 61.145 71.99 86.49 103.66
C 24.09 40.94 60.06 71.45 82.33 101.31
A 21.85 35.63 51.27 66.73 71.03 92.84
3.0 B 21.84 35.65 52.15 66.67 73.97 94.15
C 21.78 35.42 50.60 65.70 68.35 85.93
A 93.78 157.79 194.77 242.80 277.67 335.77
1.0 B 93.78 157.78 194.76 242.81 277.71 335.84
C 93.49 157.44 193.65 241.65 275.54 332.22
A 53.44 82.43 113.51 121.92 152.09 168.68
CC 2.0 B 53.44 82.44 113.70 122.03 153.32 168.77
C 53.30 81.89 112.41 121.17 149.99 166.38
A 42.75 61.00 80.80 99.90 104.12 129.69
3.0 B 45.75 61.05 81.26 100.27 107.33 132.72
C 42.50 60.27 79.18 98.10 101.22 121.99
A - Kim and Dickinson [78]; B - Geannakakes [54]; C - Present
5.2.2.5 Free Vibration of Bare Annular Sector Plates

Annular sector plates of sector angle 90◦ (Fig. 5.9) having different ratios
of inside to outside radii are analyzed for various boundary conditions.
Mukhopadhyay [129] solved the problems by using semianalytic finite
difference method. The results are compared in the Table 5.14 and they
are in good agreement. At higher radii ratio, however, the results have
differed at higher modes for plates having edges other than simply sup-
ported. The different abbreviations used in the table are:
CCCC - All edges clamped
CSSS - One radial edge clamped and all others simply supported
SSCC - Radial edges simply supported and curved edges clamped
SSSS - All edges simply supported
SSFF - Radial edges simply supported and curved edges free

o

90

x

Ri

Ro
Figure 5.9: Annular sector plate of sector angle 90◦

Table 5.14: Values of ω for annular sector plates
(D = 1, ρh = 1, ν = 0, Ro= 1, α = 90o )
SC Ri /Ro M 1 2 3 4 5
0 A 48.20 86.89 103.02 135.89 161.86
B 48.74 87.39 104.17 136.14 162.93
CCCC
0.25 A 52.01 87.60 121.18 136.01 166.65

B 52.58 87.72 123.43 136.38 167.21
0.5 A 94.08 113.98 149.27 199.21 246.96
B 95.17 114.26 149.40 199.69 253.01
0 A 31.01 64.24 78.80 108.37 131.91
B 30.94 63.87 78.71 106.76 131.12
0.25 A 32.18 64.41 88.35 107.91 133.91
CSSS
B 32.21 64.11 88.50 107.19 133.22

0.5 A 48.74 73.34 111.82 166.90 193.20
B 48.69 72.81 111.03 161.22 167.49
0 A 31.01 64.24 78.80 108.37 131.91
B 30.94 63.87 78.71 106.76 131.12
SSCC
0.25 A 32.18 64.41 88.35 107.91 133.91

B 32.21 64.11 88.50 107.19 133.22
0.5 A 48.74 73.34 111.82 166.90 193.20
B 48.69 72.81 111.03 161.22 167.49
continued in the next page . . . . . .
continued from the previous page . . . . . .

SC Ri /Ro M 1 2 3 4 5
0 A 25.148 56.425 69.105 97.624 120.680
B 25.176 56.273 69.382 96.926 120.539
0.25 A 28.345 56.719 84.687 97.653 123.949
SSSS
B 28.407 56.507 85.077 97.225 123.669

0.5 A 47.142 68.264 103.224 150.747 165.734
B 47.182 67.986 102.732 149.938 166.556
0 A 6.634 25.221 36.423 54.045 77.609
B 6.150 24.079 35.334 51.142 74.861
0.25 A 5.856 24.916 34.428 53.383 76.348
SSFF
B 5.664 24.029 33.554 51.236 74.077

0.5 A 4.740 23.355 35.076 52.072 71.832
B 4.642 22.777 33.970 50.632 69.507
A - Mukhopadhyay [129]; B - Present
5.2.2.6 Free Vibration of Bare Elliptical and Circular Plates

The free vibration results of elliptical plates with simply supported and
clamped boundary conditions having different ratios (a/b) of major to
minor axis (a/b = 1; for circular plate) are compared with those of Lam
et al. [82], Leissa and Narita [94], Kim and Dickinson [77] and Gean-
nakakes [54] in the Table 5.15. Lam et al. [82] used two-dimensional or-
thogonal polynomials whereas Leissa and Narita [94] used Bessel func-
tions and their asymptotic expansions. Rayleigh-Ritz method with or-
thogonally generated polynomial admissible functions was used by Kim
and Dickinson [77] and Geannakakes [54] used Rayleigh-Ritz method
Table 5.15: Frequency parameters λ = ωa2 (ρh/D)1/2 for el-

liptical and circular plates
SC a/b M 1 2 3 4 5 6
A 4.935 13.898 13.898 25.613 25.613 29.724
B 4.935 13.898 13.898 25.613 25.613 29.720
1 C 4.935 13.898 13.898 25.613 25.613 29.720
D 4.938 13.910 13.910 25.623 25.647 29.785
E 4.962 13.890 13.890 25.495 25.579 29.642
A 13.213 23.641 38.325 46.149 57.616 62.764
2 D 13.254 23.648 38.370 46.214 57.948 62.991
E 13.733 24.215 40.555 46.954 61.375 62.060
A 27.080 40.114 56.908 78.315 98.515 104.549
SS 3 D 27.164 40.123 57.099 79.279 98.730 110.496
E 28.793 41.274 63.767 89.222 101.305 118.383
A 45.916 61.953 81.536 106.454 135.629 170.688
4 D 46.076 61.999 82.245 109.023 148.809 171.261
E 49.015 64.332 94.829 125.100 161.641 174.742
continued in the next page . . . . . .
continued from the previous page . . . . . .

SC a/b M 1 2 3 4 5 6
A 10.216 21.260 21.260 34.878 34.878 39.771
1 C 10.215 21.260 21.260 34.877 34.877 39.771
D 10.215 21.258 21.258 34.872 34.892 39.792
E 10.206 21.218 21.218 34.675 34.847 39.639
A 27.477 39.497 55.977 69.855 77.044 88.047
2 D 27.374 39.497 55.995 69.849 77.211 88.183
E 27.604 39.713 57.458 70.471 80.306 87.300
A 56.899 71.590 90.238 113.266 140.746 150.088
CC 3 D 56.792 71.602 90.417 114.169 145.350 150.111
E 57.598 71.667 94.961 123.575 152.369 156.630
A 97.598 115.608 137.268 164.324 195.339 255.094
4 D 97.589 115.714 138.234 167.321 207.443 261.530
E 99.005 115.557 147.038 182.376 222.159 264.272
A - Lam et al. [82]; B - Leissa and Narita [94];
C - Kim and Dickinson [78]; D - Geannakakes [54]; E - Present
Table 5.16: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for uniformly

compressed all edges simply supported rectan-
gular plates
Aspect Ratio (a/b)

Source
0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0
A 26.97 13.17 6.24 5.13 4.19 4.04 3.99 4.13 4.32 3.98
B 27.0 13.2 6.25 5.14 4.20 4.04 4.00 4.13 - -
C - - - - - - - - 4.34 -
D - - - - - - - - - 4.00
A - Present Analysis; B - Timoshenko and Gere [184];
C - Fried and Schmitt [52]; D - C. R. C. of Japan [30]
along with normalized characteristic orthogonal polynomials. The cor-

relation of the results is very good, though results of Geannakakes are
marginally higher.
5.2.3 Stability Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates

Stability analysis for the plates with various configurations such as rect-
angular, skew, annular, circular with various boundary conditions is car-
ried out and the buckling parameters are tabulated and compared with the
available results of the other investigators wherever possible.
5.2.3.1 Buckling of Uniaxially Compressed Simply Sup-

ported bare Rectangular Plates
Buckling loads for the simply supported bare rectangular plates having
different aspect ratios (a/b) are computed and the results are presented in

compressed all edges clamped rectangular plates
Aspect Ratio (a/b)

Source
0.4 0.5 0.75 1.0 1.25 1.5 1.75 2.0

A 27.76 19.20 11.67 9.99 9.17 8.22 7.96 7.68
B - 19.76 - 10.33 - - - -
C - - 11.40 10.08 - 8.30 - 8.15
D - - - 10.05 9.02 8.11 8.00 7.76
E - - - 10.07 9.25 8.33 8.11 7.88
F - - - 10.48 9.38 8.45 8.17 8.06
G - - - 9.66 9.20 8.30 8.18 7.87
A - Present Analysis; B - Mukhopadhyay [129];
C - C. R. C. of Japan [30];
D - Zhang and Krätzig [196]; E - Levy [95];
F - Maulbetsch [106]; G - Faxen [51]
the Table 5.16 in the form of buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D where a

and b are the length and width of the plate and D is the flexural rigidity
of the plate given by D = Et3 /12(1 − ν 2 ). The results are compared
with the analytical results of Timoshenko and Gere [184]. Few of the
buckling parameters are compared with the finite element results of Fried
and Schmitt [52] and the handbook of structural stability [30]. The results
are found to be in excellent agreement.
Table 5.18: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for all edges

clamped rectangular plates with biaxial uniform
compression
Aspect Ratio (a/b)

Source
0.5 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.0

A 15.56 6.91 5.26 4.09 3.89
B - - 5.33 4.11 3.87
C - - 5.33 4.14 3.94
D 15.76 - 5.30 - 3.65
A - Present Analysis;
B - Zhang and Krätzig [196];
C - Ng [138]; D - Mukhopadhyay [129]
5.2.3.2 Buckling of Uniaxially Compressed Clamped Bare

Rectangular Plates
Rectangular bare plates of different aspect ratios with all edges clamped
are considered for the buckling load analysis and the results are compared
in the Table 5.17 with the semianalytical results of Mukhopadhyay [129]
and finite element results of Zhang and Krätzig [196] and series solution
of Levy [95], Maulbetsch [106] and Faxen [51].
5.2.3.3 Buckling of Biaxially Compressed Clamped Bare

Rectangular Plates
The buckling load results of the biaxially compressed clamped rectan-
gular plates having various aspect ratios are presented in the Table 5.18.
The results obtained by Zhang and Krätzig [196] (finite element method),
Table 5.19: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for uniaxially

gular plates with triangular load i.e; α = 1 in
y
the expression Nx = N0 (1 − α )
b
Aspect Ratio (a/b)

Source
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.0

A 15.05 9.70 8.10 7.78 8.30 7.73
B 15.1 9.7 8.1 7.8 8.4 -
A - Present Analysis;
B - Timoshaenko and Gere [184];
Ng [138] (collocation least square method) and Mukhopadhyay [129]

(semianalytical method) are compared in the table along with the present
ones which are found to agree well.
5.2.3.4 Buckling of Simply Supported Bare Rectangular

Plates Uniaxially Compressed by Triangular Load
The buckling parameters for the bare rectangular plates with varying as-
pect ratios subjected to uniaxial compressive triangular load i.e; α = 1 in
y
the expression Nx = N0 (1 − α ) are presented in the Table 5.19 along
b
with the analytical results of Timoshenko and Gere [184] where excellent
agreement is obtained.
5.2.3.5 Buckling of Uniaxially Compressed Bare Skew Plates

Numerical results for the buckling under uniaxial compression of the
skew rhombic (aspect ratio = 1) plates having angles of skew varying
Table 5.20: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for uniaxi-

ally compressed all edges simply supported and
clamped skew plates (Aspect ratio = 1.0, ν =
0.3)
BC φ A B C D E F G
Simply Supported
0 3.98 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 - 4.00

15 4.37 4.53 4.412 4.245 4.38 - 4.32
30 5.82 6.17 5.91 5.12 5.61 - 5.55
45 9.64 11.00 10.22 10.22 - - 9.07
60 20.98 - 24.56 - - - -
0 9.99 10.06 10.07 10.06 - 10.06 -
Clamped
15 10.72 10.93 - 10.44 - 10.60 -

30 13.30 14.00 13.53 13.51 - 13.39 -
45 19.30 21.70 20.05 20.08 - 20.07 -
60 36.32 - 42.38 - - - -
BC - Boundary Conditions; φ = Skew Angle;
A - Present Analysis; B - Mukhopadhyay and Mukherjee [135];
C - Mizusawa et al. [118]; D - Fried and Schmitt [52];
E - Yoshimura and Iwata [193]; F - Wittrick [190];
G - Durvasula and Nair [49]
Table 5.21: Buckling parameter k = (Nr )cr a2 /D for

uniformly compressed simply supported and
clamped circular plates (ν = 0.3)
Boundary Mesh Present Timoshenko

Condition Size Analysis and Gere [184]
4×4 16.0513
6×6 15.0061
8×8 14.7807
Clamped
10 × 10 14.7091
12 × 12 14.6803
14 × 14 14.666
16 × 16 14.656 14.68
4×4 3.83696
Simply Supported
6×6 4.02363
8×8 4.09947
10 × 10 4.13905
12 × 12 4.16403
14 × 14 4.1824
16 × 16 4.19765 4.20
from 0◦ to 60◦ with all edges simply supported and clamped are pre-
sented in the Table 5.20 along with the results of other investigators such
as Mukhopadhyay and Mukherjee [135], Mizusawa et al. [118], Fried
and Schmitt [52], Yoshimura and Iwata [193], Wittrick [190], Durvasula
and Nair [49]. The results are in good agreement. Best agreement is
obtained with Durvasula.
5.3 Arbitrary Stiffened Plates 151
5.2.3.6 Buckling of Uniformly Compressed Bare Circular

Plates
The buckling loads for the simply supported and the clamped bare circular
plates are computed and the results are presented in the form of the pa-
rameter k = (Nr )cr a2 /D where (Nr )cr is the critical compressive force
uniformly distributed around the edge of the plate, a is the radius of the
circular plate and D is the flexural rigidity of the plate. The results are
presented in the Table 5.21 for various mesh divisions of the whole plate
to study the convergence of the buckling parameter and they are com-
pared with the analytical values of Timoshenko and Gere [184]. There is
excellent agreement between the results.
5.3 Arbitrary Stiffened Plates

In this section the problems relating to the arbitrary stiffened plates are
analyzed when they are subjected to static, dynamic and buckling loads
and are presented in the subsequent subsections.
5.3.1 Static Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates

Stiffened plates of different shapes with eccentric as well as concentric
stiffeners with different boundary conditions and loadings are analyzed
and results are compared with those available. The results are presented
in tabular or graphical forms depending on the suitability for the purpose
of comparing them with those of others.
5.3.1.1 Square Plate with a Central Stiffener
A simply supported square plate with a central stiffener as shown in

the Fig. 5.10 is considered. The problem is solved both for eccentri-
cally and concentrically placed stiffeners. The plate and the stiffeners
have the same material properties with elastic modulus E = 1.1721 ×
105 N/mm2 (17 × 106 psi) and Poisson’s ratio ν = 0.3. The plate is sub-
jected to a uniformly distributed load of 6.89476×10−3 N/mm2 (1.0 psi).
The plate is analyzed by the present method using various mesh divisions
and the analysis is carried out with the mesh division of 16 × 16 for the
whole plate. The deflection curves along the two centre lines are com-
pared in Table 5.22 and Fig. 5.11 with the results obtained by Rossow
and Ibrahimkhail [157] who applied the constraint method of the finite
element analysis. In Table 5.22, results from NASTRAN and STRUDL
Y 0.2542.54
A A
25.4
0.254
X
SECTION AT A-A
25.4
5 2
E = 11721 x 10 N/mm
ν = 0.3
All dimensions are in mm.
Figure 5.10: Simply supported square plate with a central

stiffener
Figure 5.11: Variation of deflection along centrelines of sim-

ply supported square plate with a central stiff-
ener
are also indicated. The agreement between the results is excellent.
To test the convergence of the results obtained by the present method,

the deflection, moment and top fiber stress of the plate skin at the central
location of the eccentrically stiffened square plate for varying number of
mesh divisions are computed and presented in the Table 5.23 from which
the attainment of good convergence for all is evident.
Table 5.22: Deflection at the centre of simply supported

square stiffened plate (×104 mm.)
Distributed Load
Source
Eccentric Concentric
Rossow and Ibrahimkhail [157] 34.722 115.722
NASTRAN 37.846 -
STRUDL - 115.291
Present Method 34.696 115.875
Table 5.23: Convergence of deflection (w), plate moment

(My ) and plate stress (σx ) of the eccentrically
stiffened square plate at its centre with different
mesh divisions.
Mesh Deflection (w) Moment (My ) Stress (σx )

Division ×104 (mm.) ×103 (N − mm/mm) (N/mm2 )
2×2 32.614 6.005 4.532
4×4 34.163 21.943 9.339
6×6 34.493 24.412 9.992
8×8 34.595 25.275 10.189
10 × 10 34.646 25.697 10.271
12 × 12 34.671 25.933 10.3097
14 × 14 34.671 26.075 10.3297
16 × 16 34.696 26.169 10.3394
Table 5.24: Central deflection of rectangular cross-stiffened

plate (×103 mm.)
Concentrated Load Distributed Load

Source
Eccentric Concentric Eccentric Concentric
Rossow 32.258 87.986 224.790 611.505
and
Ibrahimkhail
[157]
NASTRAN 31.496 - 221.336 -
Chang [32] 31.648 87.986 228.498 611.556
STRUDL - 87.960 - 612.648
Present 31.445 87.986 226.873 611.454
method
5.3.1.2 Cross Stiffened Rectangular Plate

A simply supported rectangular plate with a central stiffener in each di-
rection shown in Fig. 5.12 is analyzed for a uniform pressure of 6.89 ×
10−2 N/mm2 (10.0 psi) as well as for a concentrated load of 4.448 kN
(1.0 kip) at the centre of the plate with a mesh division of 16 × 16. The
material properties are E = 2.0684 × 105 N/mm2 (30 × 106 psi) and
ν = 0.3 for both the plate and the stiffener. The same problem is solved
by Rossow and Ibrahimkhail [157] by applying the constraint method to
the finite element analysis and by Chang [32] using conventional finite
element method. The deflection and bending moments along the differ-
ent lines for eccentrically as well as concentrically stiffened plates sub-
jected to uniformly distributed load as well as concentrated load obtained
by different methods are compared in Figs. 5.13-5.23. Additionally a
y 6.35
B B
127
A
1524
Stiffeners
A
12.7
Section at A-A
6.35
x
762
76.2
5 2
E = 2.0684 x 10 N/mm
ν = 0.3 12.7
Section at B-B
Figure 5.12: Simply supported rectangular plate with a cen-

tral stiffener in each direction
comparison of the central transverse displacements obtained by various

methods is made in the Table 5.24.
Figure 5.13: Deflection at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm.

for plate with two concentric stiffeners, under
distributed load
Figure 5.14: Deflection at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm.

for plate with two eccentric stiffeners, under
distributed load
Figure 5.15: Moment Mxx at y = 381.0 mm. and y = 762.0

mm. for plate with two concentric stiffeners,
under distributed load

mm. for plate with two eccentric stiffeners,
Figure 5.17: Moment M yy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0

mm. for plate with two concentric stiffeners,
Figure 5.18: Moment Myy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0

mm. for plate with two eccentric stiffeners,
Figure 5.19: Deflections at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm.

for plate with two stiffeners under concentrated
load

mm. for plate with two concentric stiffeners
under concentrated load

mm. for plate with two eccentric stiffeners

mm. for plate with two concentric stiffeners

mm. for plate with two eccentric stiffeners
5.3.1.3 Rectangular Multi-Stiffened Plate
A rectangular steel plate stiffened with nine number of equispaced T-

stiffeners along the short span as shown in the Figure 5.24 is analyzed
by the present method with a mesh division of 16 × 16 for the whole
plate. The plate is subjected to a concentrated load of 10 kN at its centre.
The long edges are considered as simply supported and the short ones
free. The deflections and bending moments along the central line in the
longitudinal direction are computed and the results are compared graph-
ically in the Figures 5.25-5.26 with those of Smith [179] who solved the
problem based on generalized slab beam analysis.
y
508
2540
A A
x
4.7752
5 2
152.4
E = 2.06843 x 10 N/mm
ν = 0.3
14.224
76.2
Section at A-A
Figure 5.24: Rectangular multi-stiffened plate

Figure 5.25: Variation of deflection along the centre line of

the rectangular multi-stiffened plate
Figure 5.26: Variation of plate moment Mx along the centre

line of the rectangular multi-stiffened plate
5.3.1.4 Rectangular Slab with Two Edge Beams

Three numbers of specimens of slabs having edge beams at two opposite
edges made of Araldite as shown in the Figure 5.27 are considered for the
analysis using the present method employing a mesh division of 16 × 16
for the whole plate. Each of the specimens is considered to be free at the
edges where the beams are placed and simply supported along the edges
transverse to the beams. Two concentrated loads of equal magnitude are
applied at the centre of each of the beams. The Table 5.25 describes the
details of the geometrical and the material properties of the specimens
along with the magnitude of the concentrated loads applied to each one
of them. The deflections along different sections and the normal stresses
at the bottom of the beam along its length are compared graphically with
the finite element results of Mukhopadhyay and Satsangi [136] in the
Figures 5.28-5.31. Additionally, the numerical values of the deflections
and the stresses at some typical points are compared with the theoretical
and experimental results of Allen [5] along with the finite element results
of Mukhopadhyay and Satsangi [136] and the spline finite strip results
of Sheikh [172] in the Table 5.26. The agreement between the results is
found to be reasonably close.
Table 5.25: Geometrical and material properties of the

specimens of the rectangular slab with edge
beams
(Ref. Figure 5.27)

Specimen a b d L
No. (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
SPEC1 138.58 4.52 19.10 131.78
SPEC2 138.58 4.52 15.24 131.78
SPEC3 138.58 4.52 11.43 131.78
Specimen t E ν P
2
No. (mm) (N/mm ) (N )
SPEC1 4.445 2977 0.35 176.59
SPEC2 4.445 2977 0.35 161.03
SPEC3 4.445 2977 0.35 61.39
A B
y d
L
C C
x
t
A
B
a
b
Figure 5.27: Rectangular slab with two edge beams
Figure 5.28: Deflection along A-A of the slab with edge

beams
Figure 5.29: Deflection along B-B of the slab with edge

beams
Figure 5.30: Deflection along C-C of the slab with edge

beams
Figure 5.31: Stress at the beam soffit of the slab with edge
beams
Table 5.26: Deflection and stress at the beam soffit of the

rectangular slab with edge beams
Source Specimen No.

of Result 1 2 3
Deflection Present Method 0.4216 0.7214 0.5842
(mm.) Sheikh [172] 0.4191 0.7290 0.6045
at 25.4 mm. Experimental [5] 0.4521 0.6477 0.5232
from the Theoretical [5] 0.4064 0.7087 0.5918
beam centre Mukhopadhyay 0.4572 0.6477 0.6756
and Satsangi [136]
Stress Present Method 14.5410 20.1534 12.3485
2
(N/mm ) Sheikh [172] 15.5615 21.7323 13.5758
at the Experimental [5] 15.3339 25.0568 12.9759
beam centre Theoretical [5] 13.3000 18.3883 11.4798
Mukhopadhyay 14.8858 20.1396 12.5071
and Satsangi [136]
5.3.1.5 Stiffened Skew Bridge Deck

A perspex scale model of a 450 skew bridge deck (Fig. 5.32) having five
equispaced longitudinal beams and two transverse edge beams supported
at the ends of each of the equally spaced longitudinal beams, the vertical
deflection and movement in the direction of the axes of the transverse
beams at these points being restrained and subjected to a concentrated
vertical load of 100N acting at the midpoint of one of the longitudinal
free edges is analyzed with a mesh of 16 × 16 applied to the entire plate.
The transverse and the longitudinal beams are having depths and widths
of 22.0 mm and 6.0 mm respectively. The Young’s modulus and Pois-
son’s ratio for the 3-mm thick slab are 3354.0 N/mm2 and 0.390 respec-
tively and those for the beams are 3176.0 N/mm2 and 0.335 respectively.
The vertical deflections along the loaded free edge and along the centre
line in the transverse direction are compared in Fig. 5.33-5.34 with the
experimental results and also with those of Just [74]. The agreement is
reasonably good.
B
¸
45
®
¸
90
3
y :
® Transverse Beams ?
¸ X
90
X 6
¸ - Y
® ¸ - ¾ 6
22
¸
90
- Y
®
¸ ?
90
>
® Longitudinal Beams Section at X-X
¸ U
45
® 3
A o A ?
6
45
j B 6
Y
3 30
0 - ¾ 6
22
j ?
Y
3 Section at Y-Y
Figure 5.32: Skew bridge deck with beams in both direc-

tions
Figure 5.33: Deflection along A-A of the stiffened skew

bridge deck
Figure 5.34: Deflection along B-B of the stiffened skew

bridge deck
5.3.1.6 Stiffened Curved Bridge Deck

A perspex model of a horizontally curved bridge deck (Fig. 5.35) with
two curved girders having free curved boundaries and simply supported
on straight edges subjected to a concentrated load of 100 N applied at dif-
ferent points of the deck is analyzed with different mesh sizes. The con-
vergence study for this problem for the load placed at position 4 and 7 for
the deflection at various positions on the outer girder and the outer edge
and that of the moments at the centre are presented in Table 5.27-5.28
respectively. The convergence for the deflection and moment is found to
be good. The deflections obtained with a mesh division of 16 × 16 at
the inner edge, inner girder, outer girder and outer edge are compared
with the theoretical and experimental results of Joshipara [73], finite
element results of Kalani et al. [75] and Satsangi and Mukhopadhyay
[163] in Table 5.29-5.30. The elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio are
3.6 × 104 Kg/cm2 and 0.38 respectively. At all places except the inner
edge, present results compare favorably with the experimental ones.
Figure 5.35: Curved bridge deck with two circumferential

girders
Table 5.27: Convergence of deflection at outer girder and

outer edge
Load Mesh Outer Girder Outer Edge

at B C D B C D
4×8 1.4453 2.0520 1.4453 1.5897 2.2318 1.5897
8×8 1.4464 2.0536 1.4464 1.5905 2.2327 1.5905
4 12 × 8 1.4464 2.0536 1.4464 1.5899 2.2315 1.5899
12 × 12 1.4528 2.0633 1.4528 1.5985 2.2436 1.5985
16 × 16 1.4552 2.0669 1.4552 1.6015 2.2475 1.6015
4×8 2.7119 3.4075 2.2145 3.6265 4.4724 2.8711
8×8 2.7147 3.4098 2.2158 3.6301 4.4752 2.8726
7 12 × 12 2.7338 3.4288 2.2273 3.6525 4.4989 2.8870
16 × 16 2.7412 3.4361 2.2317 3.6614 4.5080 2.8926
Table 5.28: Convergence of moments at the centre
Load at Mesh Mx My Mxy

4×8 0.3191 1.4521 0.2795
4 8×8 0.3469 1.4614 0.2749
12 × 12 0.3415 1.4583 0.2908
16 × 16 0.3377 1.4501 0.2975
4×8 2.6735 0.0706 0.0542
7 8×8 2.7075 0.1086 0.0965
12 × 12 2.6294 0.0941 0.0263
16 × 16 2.6199 0.0882 0.0269
Table 5.29: Deflection (mm.) at inner edge and inner girder
Load Source of Inner Edge Inner Girder

at Results B C D B C D
Experimental [73] 2.12 1.54 0.84 1.16 1.22 0.70
Theoretical [73] 1.99 1.47 0.83 1.08 1.20 0.72
1 FEM [75] 2.03 1.46 0.89 1.13 1.24 0.74
FEM [163] 2.31 1.37 0.81 1.04 1.10 0.62
Present 2.03 1.42 0.80 1.02 1.14 0.67
Experimental [73] 1.28 1.92 1.30 1.38 2.04 1.39
Theoretical [73] 1.20 1.79 1.20 1.30 1.93 1.30
4 FEM [75] 1.32 1.88 1.32 1.38 1.99 1.38
FEM [163] 1.22 1.84 1.22 1.31 1.96 1.51
Present 1.14 1.70 1.14 1.24 1.85 1.24
Experimental [73] 0.40 0.65 0.42 1.07 1.57 1.03
Theoretical [73] 0.44 0.67 0.49 1.11 1.49 1.01
7 FEM [75] 0.49 0.72 0.58 1.26 1.68 1.16
FEM [163] 0.22 0.34 0.25 0.87 1.13 0.72
Present 0.35 0.55 0.41 1.07 1.45 0.99
Experimental [73] 0.46 0.60 0.43 1.54 2.12 1.56
Theoretical [73] 0.47 0.65 0.47 1.63 2.29 1.63
10 FEM [75] 0.52 0.69 0.52 1.86 2.69 1.86
FEM [163] 0.22 0.32 0.22 1.55 2.17 1.55
Present 0.30 0.43 0.30 1.60 2.24 1.60
Table 5.30: Deflection (mm.) at outer girder and outer edge
Load Source of Outer Girder Outer Edge

at Results B C D B C D
Experimental[6] 0.38 0.64 0.44 0.16 0.34 0.36
Theoretical[6] 0.44 0.67 0.50 0.25 0.47 0.41
1 FEM[8] 0.43 0.61 0.47 0.21 0.41 0.43
FEM[13] 0.21 0.33 0.23 0.04 0.03 0.07
Present 0.35 0.55 0.41 0.13 0.30 0.30
Experimental[6] 1.60 2.16 1.60 1.74 2.42 1.74
Theoretical[6] 1.49 2.12 1.49 1.63 2.29 1.63
4 FEM[8] 1.69 2.29 1.69 1.83 2.59 1.88
FEM[13] 1.42 2.03 1.42 1.54 2.17 1.54
Present 1.45 2.06 1.45 1.60 2.24 1.60
Experimental[6] 2.87 3.48 2.27 3.81 4.41 2.92
Theoretical[6] 2.63 3.28 2.12 3.46 4.24 2.70
7 FEM[8] 3.09 3.84 2.57 4.09 4.95 3.23
FEM[13] 2.53 2.97 1.74 3.51 4.00 2.31
Present 2.74 3.43 2.23 3.66 4.51 2.89
Experimental[6] 4.45 6.62 4.24 6.16 9.82 6.06
Theoretical[6] 4.24 6.16 4.24 5.66 8.94 5.66
10 FEM[8] 4.98 7.03 4.98 6.82 10.43 6.82
FEM[13] 4.77 7.01 4.77 6.58 10.91 6.58
Present 4.50 6.54 4.50 6.09 9.66 6.09
Stiffener
A A 0.254
2.54
0.254
Section at A-A
25.4
Figure 5.36: Simply supported circular plate with a stiffener

along the diameter
5.3.1.7 Circular Plate with a Central Stiffener

A simply supported circular plate of diameter 25.4 mm. (1.0in.) with a
central stiffener (both eccentrically and concentrically placed) as shown
in the Fig. 5.36 subjected to a uniform pressure of 6.8947 kPa (1.0psi)
keeping all the other material and the geometric properties of the plate
and stiffener same as that of the square stiffened plate solved by Rossow
and Ibrahimkhail [157] is analyzed using a mesh of 16×16 by the present
method and the deflection curves along the two centre lines are plot-
ted in the Figure 5.37. The central deflections of the circular stiffened
plate are found to be 1.1496 × 10−4 and 3.6068 × 10−4 whereas those
of Rossow and Ibrahimkhail [157] for the square stiffened plate being
1.367 × 10−4 and 4.556 × 10−4 for the eccentric and the concentric stiff-
eners respectively. Hence the central deflection of a centrally stiffened
plate is reduced by approximately 16% and 21% for eccentric and con-
centric stiffeners respectively when the plate configuration is changed
from the square one to the circular one keeping the side of the square
plate and the diameter of the circular one same, the reduction in the plate
area being about 21%. This result is presented for the first time.
Figure 5.37: Deflection along diameters of a simply sup-

ported circular plate under distributed load
5.3.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened

Plates
Free vibration analysis of arbitrary stiffened plates having various shapes
and boundary conditions are carried out and results are compared with
those available. Results are presented in tabular form. Results tabulated
are obtained with a mesh division of 16 × 16 for the whole plate unless
otherwise mentioned.
5.3.2.1 Free Vibration of Concentrically Stiffened Clamped

Square Plate
A square plate clamped in all edges having a centrally placed eccentric
stiffener as presented by Nair and Rao [137] using the package STIFPT1
has been analyzed by the present method using various mesh divisions
ranging from 8 × 8 to 24 × 24 for the whole plate. The problem has
also been solved by Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122], Mukhopad-
hyay [131], and Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] using the finite element
method, the semi-analytical method and the spline finite strip method re-
spectively. The first six frequencies are compared with those of previous
investigators in Table 5.31. The agreement is excellent with Nair and
Rao [137] and Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173]. The results of Mukher-
jee and Mukhopadhyay [122] differ from present ones because they used
a very coarse mesh (6 × 6 for the entire plate) in their finite element
analysis. Similarly slightly varying results are obtained by Mukhopad-
hyay [131] because the inplane displacement is not considered in the
analysis. The Table 5.31 also presents the convergence study showing
good convergence of the results.
Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122] analyzed this plate problem to
investigate the possible weaknesses of the isoparametric element which
Table 5.31: Frequency in Hz of a clamped square plate with

a central concentric stiffener
plate size = 600 mm × 600 mm, plate thickness = 1.0 mm
ν = 0.34, ρ = 2.78 × 10−6 kg/mm3 , E = 6.87 × 107 N/mm2
As = 67.0 mm2 , Is = 2290 mm4 , Js = 22.33 mm4
Method
Mode sequences
Mesh
size 1 2 3 4 5 6
8×8 49.453 62.656 71.857 81.373 107.896 113.321
Present
12 × 12 49.960 63.199 73.492 83.416 110.791 116.821

16 × 16 50.152 63.410 74.132 84.243 111.990 118.338
20 × 20 50.244 63.513 74.442 84.649 112.585 119.103
24 × 24 50.295 63.571 74.614 84.877 112.919 119.537
A 50.45 63.71 75.16 85.50 113.69 120.89
B 51.30 65.53 80.473 95.28 122.90 141.70
C 48.54 60.80 72.26 82.60 110.77 117.93
D 50.43 63.72 75.07 85.46 113.96 120.82
A - Nair and Rao [137]; B - Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122]
C - Mukhopadhyay [131]; D - Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173]
has the undesirable locking effects for very thin plates. Since the width to
thickness ratio of this plate is 600 the plate can be considered as very thin.
They observed that the results did not converge until the shear stiffness
of the very thin plate was reduced artificially to that of a thin plate which
clearly depicts the effect of shear locking inherent in the element based
on Mindlin plate bending theory.
600 mm
7 2
E = 6.87 x 10 N/mm
ν = 0.34
600 mm
-6 3
ρ = 2.78 x 10 Kg/mm
A A
20 mm
1 mm
3 mm
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.38: Clamped square plate with a central eccentric

stiffener
5.3.2.2 Free Vibration of Eccentrically Stiffened Clamped

Square Plate
Rao et al. [154] studied the effect of the eccentricity of the stiffener on the
frequencies by investigating the same square plate as in the previous ex-
ample but with a stiffener of 20mm×3mm size (Fig. 5.38). Sheikh [173]
solved this problem by the spline finite strip method. Using the present
element, the problem is analyzed for the free vibration and the results are
compared with those of Sheikh [173] in the Table 5.32 where the results
are found to agree well.
Table 5.32: Frequency in Hz of a clamped square plate with

a central eccentric stiffener
Method Mode sequences

1 2 3 4 5 6
Present 54.371 65.101 79.808 84.584 116.531 118.676
Sheikh [173] 54.759 65.435 80.805 85.745 118.521 120.966
5.3.2.3 Free Vibration of Cross Stiffened Square Plate

A square plate having central concentric stiffeners placed in both direc-
tions with all its edges clamped is analyzed by the present method using
a mesh division of 16 × 16. Mizusawa et al. [116] solved this problem
using the B-spline functions in both directions. The same problem was
analyzed by Shastry and Rao [170] using high precision elements for the
plate and the stiffener and by Sheikh [173] employing the spline finite
strip method. The results obtained by the present method are presented
in the Table 5.33 and compared with those of others and found to be in
good agreement.
5.3.2.4 Free Vibration of Eccentrically Stiffened Rectangu-

lar Plate
A rectangular plate with simply supported edges having a central L-
shaped eccentric stiffener in the shorter span direction as presented by
Madsen [104] is analyzed. The results are compared with those of Mad-
sen [104] and Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] who used Rayleigh-Ritz
p
Table 5.33: Frequency parameter [ω(a/π)2 ρt/D] of
square cross-stiffened plate with concentric stiff-
eners having all edges clamped
(EIs /Da = 10.0, As /at = 0.1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A 11.35 11.70 12.65 12.65 17.42 24.81 24.96
B 10.97 11.79 12.61 12.61 17.74 24.58 24.68
C 10.97 11.80 12.62 12.62 17.67 24.64 24.81
D 10.97 11.87
A - Present; B - Mizusawa et al. [116]; C - Sheikh [173];
D - Shastry and Rao [170]
Table 5.34: Frequency in Hz of a simply supported rect-

angular plate with a central L-shaped eccentric
stiffener in the shorter span direction
ν = 0.3, ρ = 7825 Kg/m3 , E = 2.051 × 1011 N/m2

1 2 3
Madsen (Raleigh-Ritz Method) [104] 147.92 175.04 338.71
Madsen (Differential Equations) [104] 144.06 175.16 335.93
Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] 143.03 175.02 336.37
Present 142.76 174.85 334.83
method and the spline finite strip method respectively in Table 5.34.
Madsen [104] in his analysis neglected the in-plane displacements whereas
Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] analyzed by both neglecting and in-
cluding the in-plane displacements. The present investigation has been
carried out by including the in-plane displacements. The results agree
well with those of Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] and with the solu-
tion of the differential equations of Madsen [104]. It appears that for this
problem inplane displacements do not influence the natural frequencies
significantly.
5.3.2.5 Free Vibration of Rectangular Multi-stiffened Plates

Rectangular plates with unidirectional concentric stiffeners for varying
number of panels and different aspect ratios (Fig. 5.40) are analyzed us-
ing a mesh division of 16 × 16 by the present method and the first four
number of frequencies are compared with the finite difference results of
Wah [187] and the finite element results of Mukherjee and Mukhopad-
hyay [122] in the Table 5.35. The results are having good co-relation
between them.
5.3.2.6 Free Vibration of Multi-stiffened Skew Plates

Simply supported skew plates having concentric stiffeners in one direc-
tion presented by Bhandari et al. (1979) are analyzed for different skew
angles using mesh divisions of 20 × 20 and the first four natural fre-
quencies of plates upto 45o skew angles are compared with those of
other investigators in Table 5.36 which is found to agree well. Bhan-
dari et al. [21] analyzed the problem by using Lagrange’s equations and
p
Table 5.35: Frequency parameter [ω(a/R)2 ρt/D] of sim-
ply supported multi-stiffened rectangular plate
with concentric stiffeners in one direction
a a 1
N M =1 =
b b 2
A B C A B C
1 2.602 2.697 2.611 1.345 1.363 1.348
3 2 5.375 5.833 5.378 2.602 2.678 2.610
3 8.043 7.989 8.062 4.346 4.440 4.343
4 10.340 10.103 10.346 5.375 5.110 4.878
1 1.464 1.493 1.470 0.757 0.767 0.754
2 3.026 3.170 3.027 1.464 1.488 1.460
4 3 4.556 4.700 4.569 2.447 2.486 2.443
4 5.847 6.143 5.798 3.026 3.000 2.739
1 0.163 0.166 0.164 0.084 0.086 0.085
12 2 0.336 0.349 0.337 0.163 0.168 0.152
3 0.508 0.521 0.510 0.272 0.277 0.271
4 0.651 0.670 0.647 0.336 0.318 0.281
N - No. of panels; M - Mode sequence number;
A - Wah [187]; B - Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122];
C - Present
11 2
E = 2.051 x 10 N/mm
3
450 mm
A A ρ = 7825 Kg/m
ν = 0.3
650 mm
4.98 mm
20 mm
3 mm
3 mm
10 mm
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.39: Simply supported rectangular plate with a cen-
tral eccentric stiffener
609.6 mm
A A
a = 609.6 mm x no. of panels (R)
25.4 mm
101.6 mm
25.4 mm
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.40: Simply supported rectangular plate with con-
centric stiffeners in one direction
p
Table 5.36: Frequency parameter [ω(a/R)2 ρh/D] of a
simply supported multi-stiffened skew plate hav-
ing concentric stiffeners in one direction
a/b = 1 a/b = 2
S M A B C D A B C D
1 1.447 1.493 1.493 1.489 0.747 0.767 0.767 0.761
o
0 2 2.990 3.170 3.170 3.065 1.447 1.488 1.488 1.473
3 4.562 4.700 4.700 4.590 2.437 2.486 2.486 2.453
4 5.780 6.143 6.143 5.843 2.727 3.000 3.000 2.755
1 1.580 1.581 1.564 0.810 0.813 0.815 0.858
15o 2 3.263 3.372 3.221 1.525 1.549 1.552 1.426
3 4.922 4.934 4.789 2.659 2.651 2.659 2.626
4 6.102 6.416 5.800 2.789 2.842 2.849 2.787
1 1.986 1.895 1.979 0.989 0.995 0.986 1.050
o
30 2 3.890 4.029 4.064 1.736 1.800 1.775 1.900
3 5.809 5.736 5.605 2.992 3.139 3.108 3.185
4 6.923 7.316 6.592 3.303 3.255 3.276 3.246
1 2.964 2.649 2.828 1.445 1.431 1.409 1.508
45o 2 5.342 5.431 5.560 2.295 2.403 2.310 2.320
3 8.016 7.866 7.793 3.613 3.950 3.786 3.661
4 8.925 9.376 8.457 4.903 4.735 4.791 4.828
1 4.888 3.547
o
60 2 8.507 4.360
3 12.353 5.854
4 13.857 7.833
A - Bhandari et al. [21];
B - Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122]
(Slope along the boundaries not restrained);
C - Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122]
(Slope along the boundaries restrained); D - Present Analysis;
employing beam characteristic functions in oblique coordinates whereas

Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [122] solved the problem by finite element
method. The results for plates with 60o skew angle being new the same
could not be compared.
609.6 mm
b
A
θ
A
a = 609.6 mm x no. of panels (R)
25.4 mm
101.6 mm
25.4 mm
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.41: Simply supported skew plate with concentric

stiffeners in one direction
5.3.2.7 Free Vibration of Trapezoidal Stiffened Plates

The clamped square plate with the central concentric stiffener solved in
the previous example (Section 5.3.2.1) has been extended here to the
trapezoidal plate and analyzed for different c/b ratios where c and b are
the two parallel top and bottom sides of the plate (Fig. 5.42) respectively.
The first six natural frequencies are presented in the Table 5.37. It may
be observed that all the frequencies tend to increase as the c/b ratio de-
creases and this increase is more prominent in the case of the lower fre-
quencies. This result is presented for the first time.
c
600 mm
600 mm (b)
Figure 5.42: All edges clamped trapezoidal plate with a con-

centric stiffener in one direction
Table 5.37: Frequency in Hz of all edges clamped trape-

zoidal plate with a central concentric stiffener
plate thickness = 1.0 mm
ν = 0.34, ρ = 2.78 × 10−6 kg/mm3 , E = 6.87 × 107 N/mm2
As = 67.0 mm2 , Is = 2290 mm4 , Js = 22.33 mm4
c/b Mode sequences

ratio 1 2 3 4 5 6
0.2 100.297 118.819 155.765 161.276 214.771 216.551
0.4 85.471 103.048 125.777 139.179 169.577 185.725
0.6 71.729 88.506 100.451 117.019 137.554 153.006
0.8 59.620 75.086 83.927 97.513 121.217 130.518
5.3.2.8 Free Vibration of Concentrically Stiffened Annular

Sector Plates
Two sets of annular sector plates having stiffeners concentrically placed

along the circumferential directions (Fig. 5.43) and supported on two
radial edges are considered for the free vibration analysis by the present
method. In one of the sets the stiffeners are placed along the two circum-
ferential edges of the plate and in the other set an additional circumfer-
ential stiffener is placed along the central line of the plate. The problems
are studied by Ramakrishnan and Kunukkaseril [152] using the classical
plate theory and by Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] using the spline fi-
nite strip method. The present results are compared with those of others
in the Table 5.38 and good agreement in the results is obtained.
p
Table 5.38: Frequency parameter [ωa2 ρt/D] of annular
sector plate with concentrically placed circum-
ferential edge stiffeners
Two stiffeners Three stiffeners

M A B C A B C
1 7.837 7.981 7.871 8.057 8.600 8.662
2 19.358 19.484 19.399 17.807 20.723 20.998
3 32.531 32.908 32.379 35.291 36.874 36.616
4 41.318 42.235 41.247 39.882 41.933 40.793
5 48.799 49.676 48.624 56.735 58.349
6 67.306 67.249 66.982 74.843 72.726
7 73.339 74.799 72.598 76.549 76.892
8 78.273 78.264 77.780 78.910 79.646
A - Ramakrishnan and Kunukkaseril [152];
B - Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173]:
C - Present
b = 50
o
22.5
a = 25
0.5
0.5
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.43: Annular sector plate with concentrically placed

circumferential stiffeners
5.3.2.9 Free Vibration of Eccentrically Stiffened Annular

Sector Plate
Annular sector plates simply supported on two radial edges having stiff-
eners along the two circumferential edges (Fig. 5.44) presented by Mukher-
jee and Mukhopadhyay [123] are solved and the first six natural frequen-
cies obtained are compared in Table 5.39. Stiffeners of two sizes (S1 and
S2) as shown in the Fig. 5.44 are considered in the analysis. Mukher-
jee and Mukhopadhyay [123] analyzed the problem using finite element
method and Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173] used the spline finite strip
method. The results agree well for all the frequencies.
b = 50

o

22.5
a = 25

4 x 0.5

8 x 0.25

0.5
4 x 0.5

0.5

4 x 0.5

(Stiffener S1)

(Stiffener S2)

SECTION AT A-A


Figure 5.44: Annular sector plate with eccentrically placed

circumferential stiffeners

p
Table 5.39: Frequency parameter [ωa2 ρt/D] of annular
sector plate with eccentrically placed circumfer-
ential edge stiffeners
Stiffener
Mode sequences
Method
1 2 3 4 5 6
A 23.445 30.041 44.436 56.250 77.176 81.324
S1 P 23.172 29.276 42.981 55.975 75.013 81.895
A 19.466 26.978 41.382 51.955 74.442 77.792
S2 B 19.011 27.514 40.779 50.196 73.203 76.433
P 19.041 26.359 40.671 49.283 72.866 75.635
P - Present;
A - Mukherjee and Mukhopadhyay [123];
B - Sheikh and Mukhopadhyay [173]
5.3.2.10 Free Vibration of Circular Stiffened Plates

Three different square stiffened plates attempted in the earlier sections
are extended to circular stiffened plates keeping all the properties of the
corresponding plate and the stiffener same but the geometry of the plate
being changed from a square to a circular one keeping the diameter equal
to one of the sides of the square stiffened plate. In the first case the
clamped square stiffened plate having the central concentric stiffener pre-
sented in the section 5.3.2.1 is extended to the circular one (Fig. 5.45).
Similarly in the second case, the same square plate but having an eccen-
tric rectangular stiffener (20mm×3mm) considered by Rao et al. [154]
and presented in the section 5.3.2.2 is extended to the circular stiffened
plate. Lastly, a clamped square cross-stiffened plate with concentric
stiffeners analyzed by Mizusawa et al. [116] and attempted in the sec-
tion 5.3.2.3 is extended to the desired circular one. The results of the first
seven natural frequencies of all the circular stiffened plates (C1, C2, C3)
are presented in Table 5.40 along with the corresponding original square
stiffened plate results (S1, S2, S3) for comparison of the effects of the
curved boundaries on the frequencies/frequency parameters. There is in-
crease in the frequencies in all the cases for all the modes because of the
curved boundaries which is expected, as the circular plate having the di-
ameter equal to the side of the square plate is stiffer than the square one.
The circular stiffened plate results are presented for the first time.
5.3.2.11 Free Vibration of Elliptical Stiffened Plate

The simply supported rectangular plate with a central eccentric L-shaped
stiffener presented in the previous example in the Section 5.3.2.4 is ex-
tended to an elliptical stiffened plate by retaining all its properties but
Table 5.40: Frequency (Hz/Parameter) of all edges clamped

circular stiffened plates
C1: Diameter = 600 mm, plate thickness = 1.0 mm,

ν = 0.34 ρ = 2.78 × 10−6 Kg/mm3 ,
E = 6.87 × 107 N/mm2 , Is = 2290 mm4 ,
As = 67.0 mm2 , Js = 22.35 mm4
(Nair and Rao [137]) (concentric stiffener)
C2: Material properties and plate dimensions same as
CIR-1 but with an eccentric rectangular stiffener
of size 20 mm × 3 mm
(Rao et al. [154])
C3: Diameter = a, EIs/Da = 10.0, As/ah = 0.1
(Mizusawa et al. [116])
T Mode sequences
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
S1 H 50.152 63.410 74.132 84.243 111.990 118.338
C1 58.475 72.467 96.724 111.189 139.549 149.083
S2 H 54.371 65.101 79.808 84.584 116.531 118.676
C2 63.216 74.660 104.865 111.880 145.922 156.153
S3 P 11.35 11.70 12.65 12.65 17.42 24.81 24.96
C3 13.22 14.84 16.58 16.58 23.25 28.71 30.08
T - Type of plate
H - Frequency in Hz
p
P - Frequency parameter [ω(a/π)2 ρt/D]
600 mm
7 2
E = 6.87 x 10 N/mm
ν = 0.34 -6
3
ρ = 2.78 x 10 Kg/mm
A A
20 mm
1mm
3 mm
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.45: Circular plate with a central stiffener
changing the geometrical shape of the plate to an ellipse by keeping the

major and minor axes of the ellipse equal to the length and width of the
rectangular plate respectively (Fig. 5.46). The results of the first six fre-
quencies for the elliptical stiffened plate (ELP) as well as the correspond-
ing rectangular stiffened plate (REC) are presented in the Table 5.41.
While comparing the results of the elliptical stiffened plate with those of
the rectangular stiffened plate an increase in the frequencies is observed
in the second, fourth and the fifth mode of the elliptical plate but the first
450 mm
650 mm
20 mm
4.98 mm
3 mm
3 mm 11 2
E = 2.051 x 10 N/mm
3
10 mm ρ = 7825 Kg / m
ν = 0.3
SECTION AT A-A
Figure 5.46: Elliptical plate with a central stiffener
and the third mode frequencies are found to be lower whereas there is
hardly any change in the frequency of the sixth mode. The results are
presented for the first time.
Table 5.41: Frequency in Hz of a simply supported ellipti-

cal plate with a central eccentric stiffener in the
shorter span direction
ν = 0.3, ρ = 7825 Kg/m3 , E = 2.051 × 1011 N/m2
Plate Mode sequences

Type 1 2 3 4 5 6
REC 142.76 174.85 334.83 352.82 367.67 517.48
ELP 129.10 234.75 241.30 383.25 423.16 518.72
5.3.3 Stability Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates

Stability analysis for the stiffened plates with various configurations and
boundary conditions is carried out and the buckling parameters are tabu-
lated and compared with the published results of the other investigators
wherever possible.
5.3.3.1 Buckling of Square Stiffened Plates

A number of square stiffened plates with a concentric central stiffener
have been analyzed for various stiffener sizes and flexural rigidities, and
the buckling parameters are presented in Table 5.42 for plates with dif-
ferent boundary conditions. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the
stiffener to that of the plate (As /bt) is varied from 0.05 to 0.20 and the
ratio of the bending stiffness of the stiffener to that of the plate (EIs /bD)
is varied from 5 to 25. The torsional inertia of the stiffener has been ne-
glected in the analysis. The results are compared with the semi-analytic
finite difference results of Mukhopadhyay [131] and they agree fairly
well.
5.3.3.2 Buckling of Simply Supported Rectangular Stiffened

Plates
A series of simply supported rectangular stiffened plates with a concen-
tric central stiffener have been analyzed for various proportions of the
plate and of the stiffener and the buckling parameters are presented along
with those of other investigators in Table 5.43. The ratio of the cross-
sectional area of the stiffener to that of the plate (As /bt) is varied from
0.05 to 0.20 and the ratio of the bending stiffness of the stiffener to that
of the plate (EIs /bD) is varied from 5 to 20. The torsional inertia of
the stiffener has been neglected in the analysis. To analyze this prob-
lem Mukhopadhyay [131] used the semi-analytic finite difference method
whereas Mukhopadhyay and Mukherjee [135] used the finite element
method. Good agreement of the results is obtained when compared with
the results of Timoshenko and Gere [184] and those of others.
5.3.3.3 Buckling of Rectangular Stiffened Plates with Dif-

ferent Boundary Conditions
Rectangular stiffened plates with a concentric central stiffener have been
analyzed for two aspect ratios of the plate and for different proportions
and rigidities of the the stiffener and the buckling parameters are pre-
sented in Table 5.44. As before the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the
stiffener to that of the plate (As /bt) is varied from 0.05 to 0.20 and the
ratio of the bending stiffness of the stiffener to that of the plate (EIs /bD)
Table 5.42: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for square

plate with a central concentric stiffener sub-
jected to uniaxial and uniform compression in
the stiffener direction
ν = 0.3
Boundary Condition
EIs /bD
As /bt
CCCC CSSC
Present [131] Present [131]
0.05 24.25 25.46 17.35 17.32
5 0.10 24.25 25.46 17.15 17.05
0.20 24.25 25.46 16.41 16.27
0.05 24.25 - 17.94 -
10 0.10 24.25 - 17.93 -
0.20 24.25 - 17.90 -
0.05 24.25 25.46 18.03 18.36
15 0.10 24.25 25.46 18.03 18.36
0.20 24.25 25.46 18.02 18.34
0.05 24.25 25.46 18.070 -
20 0.10 24.25 25.46 18.068 -
0.20 24.25 25.46 18.064 -
0.05 24.25 - 18.09 18.46
25 0.10 24.25 - 18.09 18.46
0.20 24.25 - 18.09 18.46

gular stiffened plates
ν = 0.3
Aspect Ratio (a/b)
EIs /bD
As /bt
1 2
Present [184] [135] Present [184] [131]
0.05 11.84 12.0 11.72 7.93 7.96 7.93
5 0.10 11.02 11.1 10.93 7.27 7.29 7.28
0.20 9.64 9.72 9.70 6.24 6.24 6.24
0.05 15.73 16.0 16.0 10.16 10.20 10.16
10 0.10 15.73 16.0 16.0 9.33 9.35 9.33
0.20 15.49 15.8 15.44 8.02 8.03 8.02
0.05 15.73 16.0 16.0 12.36 12.4 -
15 0.10 15.73 16.0 16.0 11.36 11.4 -
0.20 15.73 16.0 16.0 9.77 9.80 -
0.05 15.73 16.0 - 14.52 14.6 -
20 0.10 15.73 16.0 - 13.36 13.4 -
0.20 15.73 16.0 - 11.51 11.6 -
Table 5.44: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for rectangu-

lar plate with a central concentric stiffener sub-
jected to uniaxial and uniform compression in
the stiffener direction
ν = 0.3
Boundary Condition
CSCS SCSC
EIs /bD
As /bt
Aspect Ratio Aspect Ratio

1 2 1 2
0.05 18.98 13.54 21.77 18.03
5 0.10 18.98 12.61 21.40 16.41
0.20 18.98 11.03 16.47 13.85
0.05 18.98 16.64 21.76 21.18
10 0.10 18.98 16.64 21.76 21.25
0.20 18.98 16.66 21.76 19.63
0.05 18.98 16.66 21.76 21.17
15 0.10 18.98 16.66 21.76 21.16
0.20 18.98 16.66 21.76 21.26
0.05 18.98 16.66 21.76 21.15
20 0.10 18.98 16.66 21.76 21.15
0.20 18.98 16.66 21.76 21.22
is varied from 5 to 20. The torsional inertia of the stiffener has been
neglected in the analysis. These results are presented for the first time.
Table 5.45: Buckling parameter k = λb2 /π 2 D for skew

stiffened plate
(Aspect Ratio = 1.0)
EIs /bD = 10.0; GJs /bD = 0.0;
As /bt = 0.1; ν = 0.3
Boundary Condition Skew Angle Present [118] [135]

0 16.0 16.0 16.0
All Edges Simply Supported 30 19.96 20.28 20.90
45 27.68 28.68 29.89
0 24.24 24.89 30.8
All Edges Clamped 30 32.41 33.74 36.9
45 47.97 51.62 56.3
5.3.3.4 Buckling of Skew Stiffened Plates with Different

Boundary Conditions
Skew stiffened plates with a concentric central stiffener and having dif-
ferent boundary conditions have been analyzed for different skew angles
and the buckling parameters are presented in Table 5.45. The present
results agree well with the finite element results of Mukhopadhyay and
Mukherjee [135] and those of Mizusawa et al. [118] who analyzed the
problem using B-spline functions.
5.3.3.5 Buckling of Uniformly Compressed Diametrically

Stiffened Circular Plates
The buckling loads for the all edges simply supported (SS) and clamped
(CC) circular plates with concentric stiffeners along the diameters are
computed with varying flexural and torsional stiffness parameters of the
Table 5.46: Buckling parameter k = (Nr )cr a2 /D for uni-

formly compressed circular plates with concen-
tric stiffeners along the diameter with varying
flexural and torsional stiffness parameters of the
stiffener
As /at = 0.1; ν = 0.3
EIs GJs
k
aD aD
Single Stiffener Cross Stiffeners
SS CC SS CC
0.0 0.0 4.20 14.72 4.20 14.72
2.5 0.0 7.09 26.64 10.79 44.34
5.0 0.0 9.66 26.65 16.67 44.35
7.5 0.0 11.92 26.65 22.21 44.35
10.0 0.0 13.19 26.65 27.22 44.35
0.0 0.0 4.20 14.72 4.20 14.72
0.0 2.5 4.27 14.97 4.63 16.28
0.0 5.0 4.27 14.97 4.63 16.29
stiffener and the results are presented in the form of buckling parameter
k = (Nr )cr a2 /D where (Nr )cr is the critical compressive force uniformly
distributed around the edge of the plate, a is the radius of the circular plate
and D is the flexural rigidity of the plate . The results are presented in
the Table 5.46. These results are presented for the first time.
Chapter - 6
CONCLUSIONS
6.1 Summary
The investigation carried out in this thesis may be summarized as fol-
lows:
• A new four-noded plate bending element has been proposed in the

manner of isoparametric element for the analysis of the bare plates,
which is derived from the simplest rectangular basic plate bend-
ing element having 12 degrees of freedom largely known as ACM
element. The new element has all the advantages of an isoparamet-
ric plate bending element by which it is capable of accommodating
the arbitrary geometrical configuration of a plate but without the
disadvantages of the shear-locking problem inherent in the isopara-
metric element.
• A stiffened plate bending element has been proposed for the anal-
ysis of the stiffened plates by combining the 12 degrees of free-
dom rectangular basic ACM element and a four-noded rectangu-
lar plane stress element of 8 degrees of freedom. For this stiffened
plate element, a general curved stiffener element has been proposed
209
210 CONCLUSIONS
as a discrete element whose direction and orientation are arbitrary

inside the plate element facilitating its placement and the mesh
generation in the plate independent of the nodal lines. The com-
patibility between the stiffener element and the plate skin is main-
tained by expressing the stiffness matrix of the stiffener element
in terms of the nodal degrees of freedom of the plate element.
Through this compatibility, the contribution of the stiffener to the
stiffness of the plate bending element is truly reflected by its lo-
cation and orientation inside the element, contributing more to the
nodes at the vicinity and less to the far ones.
• A consistent formulation has been carried out for the derivation of

the stiffness matrix for a curved boundary assuming it to be sup-
ported on elastic springs continuously spread along the boundary
line. The springs are considered in the directions of the possible
displacements and rotations of the boundary line. Any specific
boundary condition can be attained from this general one by as-
signing an appropriate value to the spring constants.
• Using these elements, static, free vibration and stability analyses

of bare plates and the stiffened plates have been carried out. In
the extensive numerical examples presented, an attempt has been
made to include various plate geometries such as square, rectangu-
lar, skew, trapezoidal, triangular, circular, elliptical, annular sector
etc. in these three categories of analysis both for bare as well as
stiffened plates having eccentric and concentric stiffeners. Conver-
gence studies for few typical plate geometry problems have been
carried out and results have been compared with the published ones
to validate the proposed method of analysis. Few of the new results
have also been presented.
6.2 Conclusions 211
6.2 Conclusions
Based on the present investigation, the following concluding remarks can
be made:
• Since the starting of the pioneering work on the finite element

method in the early 1960s, a huge number of elements for the plate
analysis have been proposed by various researchers. In this pur-
suit, many of the elements have been found by the analysts to be
inadequate in some way or other when attempt has been made to
make use of them in certain category of problems, thereby intro-
ducing further new elements. In the present investigation, it was
felt that there was hardly a common successful element to address
to the problem of thin plates having arbitrary plate geometries in
spite of the whole wealth of plate elements available in the litera-
ture. This has prompted the present investigation to the proposition
of new elements for bare and stiffened plate analyses of arbitrary
geometrical configurations.
• The elements proposed for the bare and stiffened plate analyses are
well equipped to model the arbitrary shape of the plate, though they
are based on simplest rectangular plate bending element.
• The number of examples dealt for the static, free vibration and sta-
bility analyses of bare and stiffened plates using these elements
have encountered no numerical difficulties during the computation
showing their versatility in the analysis of arbitrary plate domain.
• The stiffener in the stiffened plate bending element has been mod-
elled as a general curved discrete element whose position, orien-
tation and disposition are independent of the nodal networks of
212 CONCLUSIONS
the plate and thus has a distinct advantage over the other model of
stiffened plate element. Any number of stiffeners having different
shape and size can be accommodated anywhere inside the element
making its use attractive enough.
• Using a single stiffened plate bending element, analysis of a large

number of plates of various geometrical configurations with vari-
ous stiffener orientations and positions is possible.
• The various loading conditions have been incorporated by consid-

ering the consistent load vector. The boundary conditions along
the curved boundary have been dealt with properly by consistently
formulating the stiffness matrix of the curved boundary line.
• The various classes of problems attempted using these elements

and the correlation of the results obtained by them with those of
published ones show the versatility and the efficacy of the proposed
method.
6.3 Further Scope of Research

The possible extensions to the present investigation are as presented be-
low:
• The present study has been confined to the linear range of analysis.
With little effort, this proposition can be easily extended to include
the works relating to large deflection and large amplitude vibration
analyses of bare and stiffened plates of arbitrary shape.
• The post buckling behaviour of the arbitrary stiffened plates can

be included as further extension to the present study of buckling
behaviour.
6.3 Further Scope of Research 213
• Response analysis of arbitrary bare and stiffened plates is another

area of extension which can be attempted.
• The present formulation can be extended to include the random

vibration analysis of arbitrary stiffened plates.
• Material nonlinearity may be taken into account in the formulation

for further extension of the arbitrary stiffened plate configurations.
• The modern age structures have extensive use of composite mate-

rials. To the present investigation these composite materials can be
added as a further extension.
• The plates studied here are of uniform thickness. The elements can
be modified to incorporate the plates of varying thickness. In a
similar manner, the study can be extended to the stiffeners having
varying depth.
• For the thick plate analysis, the inclusion of shear is inevitable.

The present model can be extended to include the shear effect and
thereby making the thick plate analysis of arbitrary shape possible.
List of Publications
International Journal
1. Manoranjan Barik and Madhujit Mukhopadhyay, “Finite element
free flexural vibration analysis of arbitrary plates”, Finite Elements
in Analysis and Design, 29, pp. 137-151, 1998.
2. Manoranjan Barik and Madhujit Mukhopadhyay, “Free flexu-

ral vibration analysis of arbitrary plates with arbitrary stiffeners”,
Journal of Vibration and Control, (Accepted for publication).
3. Madhujit Mukhopadhyay, Manoranjan Barik and Abdul Hamid

Sheikh, “Bending analysis of arbitrary plates with arbitrary stiff-
eners”, Structural Engineering and Mechanics (Communicated for
publication).

stability analysis of arbitrary stiffened plates”, Computers and Struc-
tures, (Communicated for publication).

buckling of arbitrary plates”, Journal of Engineering Mechanics,
ASCE, (Communicated for publication).
215
216 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
Conference
1. Madhujit Mukhopadhyay,Y. V. Satish Kumar and Manoranjan
Barik, “A novel analysis of grillage structures using stiffened plate
bending element”, Trends in Structural Engineering Towards the
21st Century: Structural Engineering Convention 1997, Indian In-
stitute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, pp.55-62, 1997.
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Finite Element Static, Dynamic and Stability Analyses of Arbitary Stiffened Plates - Jan Barik

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FINITE ELEMENT STATIC, DYNAMIC AND

STABILITY ANALYSES OF ARBITRARY

A thesis submitted to Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Department of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture

DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN ENGINEERING

I express my sincere gratitude to Professor L. R. Raheja and Profes-

Indian Institute of Technology

3.3.2.2 Strain-Displacement Relationship . . . 54

3.4.5 Stresses in the Stiffener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

4 COMPUTER IMPLEMENTATION 101

4.3.2.9 function bnd-stif() . . . . . . . . . . . 114

5 NUMERICAL EXAMPLES 119

5.2.2.5 Free Vibration of Bare Annular Sector

5.3.2.2 Free Vibration of Eccentrically Stiff-

6.1 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Plates are in extensive use as one of the important structural elements

not susceptible to easy modification in case of need. On the other hand,

Ss first moment of area of the stiffener

²x , ²y , γxy bending strains

3.1 Cubic Serendipity Shape Function . . . . . . . . . . . 50

5.1 Numerical factors α, β and β1 for uniformly loaded

5.25 Geometrical and material properties of the specimens

3.1 Mapping of the arbitrarily shaped plate . . . . . . . . 50

4.1 Basic Elements of the Computer Programmes . . . . 105

5.1 Location of the boundary nodal points of a rectangu-

5.11 Variation of deflection along centrelines of simply sup-

5.22 Moment Myy at x = 190.5 mm. and x = 381.0 mm.

5.42 All edges clamped trapezoidal plate with a concentric

of the arbitrarily shaped plates with complex boundary conditions may

structural form such as an orthotropic plate or a grid system which were

1.2 The Objective and Scope of Present

1. Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates

(a) Static Analysis of Arbitrary Bare Plates : The static anal-

for various boundary and loading conditions and the results

2. Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates

(a) Static Analysis of Arbitrary Stiffened Plates : A large num-

ened plates with various boundary conditions and buckling

Hence, in summary, a large number of numerical examples have been

2.2 Review on Bare Plates

1. Static Analysis of Bare Plates

2. Free Vibration Analysis of Bare Plates

3. Stability Analysis of Bare Plates

2.2.1 Static Analysis of Bare Plates

method, a displacement function satisfying boundary conditions along

various geometrical configurations where somewhat rectangular type of

circular sector plate along with the parallelogram plate.

placement fields. The spline element equations with multiple variables

placement functions are in terms of modified bicubic polynomials satis-

conditions. Based on these expansions and the Fast Fourier Transform, a

2.2.2 Free Vibration Analysis of Bare Plates

Ritz method. The orthogonal polynomials have been generated by using

boundary conditions of the plate dictate the type of admissible function

Geannakakes [54] has presented a theoretical formulation for the free

Saliba [161] has proposed a superposition technique for the solution

of simple and clamped boundary conditions have been presented. Great

a frequency-static deflection relation without the associated eigenvalue

2.2.3 Stability Analysis of Bare Plates

configurations. They have considered a general skew element having

along the circular edges. He has expressed the differential equations of

using the semianalytic technique. In this method, the governing differen-

for skew plates of various boundary conditions.

2.3 Various Methods of Analysis of Stiff-