^—^ APPLIED MECHANICS

It is important that the data contained in technical papers be made readily available to design
engineers. In order to satisfy these needs of industry, this section of the Journal includes a
concise presentation of data and information drawn chiefly from papers previously published by
the Applied Mechanics Division of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Natural Frequencies of Transversely Vibrating

Uniform Annular Plates
S. M. VOGEL 1 and D. W. SKINNER 1

Frequency determinants are derived for various combinations of well as the one in which the boundary conditions are reversed;
boundary conditions associated with the transverse vibrations of uni- i.e., clamped around the outer boundary and free at the inner
form annular plates. From these equations, the values of the resonant edge.
frequencies of the various normal modes are calculated. Graphs and
selected tables are included to facilitate the use of this material for Analysis
design purposes. The results of an experimental investigation of
two of the cases are also presented, and the agreement between these In this section, a brief review of Southwell's analysis will be
findings and the theoretically predicted values is remarkably good. presented along with the frequency equations for the other com-
binations of boundary conditions—clamped, simply supported,
and free—on the inner and outer edges. The theory underlying
Nomenclature
this analysis assumes small deflections and neglects the effects of
a = outer radius of plate, Fig. 1 rotary inertia and of the additional deflection caused by shear
b = inner radius of plate, Fig. 1 forces. Consequently, the differential equation governing the
Eh2 displacement w of a point along the central plane of the plate may
D
3(1 - v2) be written in the form
E = Young's modulus
h (b2 Id 1 d2\2 b2w
= half-thickness of plate, Fig. 1 D[— + 1 ) w + 7 = 0 (1)
V = circular frequency
t = time \5r2 r dr r2 dd2) ' dt2
r, 6 = polar coordinates Assuming a solution of the type
w = deflection
V Poisson's ratio w = U{r) sin n(0 - 0O) sin p{t - t0) (2)
and introducing it into (1) yields
=

7 = mass density of material

X = p(yai/Eh2)1^, nondimensional frequency parameter / d2 ^ 1 d n2Y U P*U 0 (3)
\dr2 r dr r2 J
THE transcendental equations which predict the eigenvalues
representing the frequencies of the transverse natural modes with P* = 3(1 - (4)
of a uniform annular plate for various sets of boundary condi-
tions can be obtained by a further extension of Kirchhoff's [l] 2 The general solution of (3) may be written as
analysis for a uniform circular disk. Southwell [2] has already V = CiJ„(ftr) + C2Y„(M + C3In(J3r) + CtKnm (5)
derived this equation for a plate clamped around the inner bound-
ary and free at the outside edge. With this analysis, he has also where Jn and F„ are Bessel functions, and / „ and K„ are modified
completed the theoretical treatment of the entire problem, since Bessel functions.
the frequency equations for the remaining cases can be found by The frequency equation is determined by substituting equation
proper rearrangement of his expressions for the deflection, slope, (2), with U as given by equation (5), into the boundary condi-
bending moment, and shear at the edges. tions. For a plate with a geometry as shown in Fig. 1, these con-
What is lacking in the literature on this problem, though, is a ditions are
thorough numerical evaluation of each of these equations. Some dhu , /I dw , 1 dHv\ „
numerical investigations have been made with notable work in this \r Sr r^dd*) (6)

direction accomplished by Southwell [2], Hort and Koenig [3],

£> /dho JL.^ jL 1 ~ " d2 /dm «A _
and Narayana Raju [4]. A more extensive numerical study still
seems warranted, however, since annular plates are fairly common dr• + dr'r2 + r2 df? 2 / + ?-2 dd2\dr~r)~
structural elements used in mechanical design. Therefore, in
this paper, each frequency determinant is given along with its
roots, which are calculated for various values of the ratio of inner
to outer radius. The findings are presented in both graphical and
tabular form. Since Poisson's ratio occurs as a parameter in most
of the equations, the effect of this ratio on the roots of the equa-
tions is also considered. Finally, natural frequencies of two cases
are determined experimentally to confirm the validity of certain
results. These eases include the one considered by Southwell as
1 Systems Development Division, Endicott Laboratory, IBM
Corporation, Endicott, N. Y.
1 Numbers in brackets designate References at end of paper.
Manuscript received by Applied Mechanics Division, January 28,
1965; revised draft, June 4,1965.

926 / DECEMBER 1965 Transactions of the A S M E

Copyright © 1965 by ASME

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 DESIGN DATA AND METHODS

at the free outside edge, r = a, and

w = 0 (8)
5w
(9) - C^nKJPa) - PaKn+1(Pa)

around the clamped inner boundary, r = b. Thus the outside

~ [<» - VKJPa) - /JaiW/Ja)]
edge conditions lead to expressions of the form
= B = 0
JnWa) - (1 - UPa) + ^ Jn+l(pa)
]} while the conditions on the inner boundary provide the expres-
sions

+ CJn(Pb) + CiYn(Pb) + C3I„(Pb) + C<Kn(Pb) = D' = 0 (12)

C,{Ynm - (1 - YJMa) + I y„+1(/3a)]}

P j f t \jh UPb) ~ / » « ( / ? & ) ] + C2 [ j - YSPb) - F„+i(/36)J

C3{ln(Pa) + (1 - UP«) - £/.«<*>]}
+ C3 [ g In(pb) + 7„ +1 ()86)] + C< ^ K„(pb) - X„+,(06)]j
- C^Ktfa) + (1 - +
= E' = 0 (13)
= A = 0 (10)
The frequency determinant is now readily constructed from the
(Pa) - fiaJ„+i(|Sa) different coefficients of Ci, C2, and C3 and Ct.
(11)
Since this particular case provides expressions, equations
(10-13), for the four physically meaningful boundary conditions,
equations (6-9), the frequency determinants for different sets of
+ H Y a s. V ) [ ( » - 1 ) U P a ) ~ |8aJ-„ +1 (0a)]|
(Pa) conditions are easily obtained by proper rearrangement of these
expressions. Each of equations (10) through (13) has been tagged
+ CAnYn{pa) - PaYn+l(Pa) with either a primed or unprimed capital letter. The unprimed
capital designates the expression in which a Pa appears; whereas
the primed letter indicates that expression which contains a Pb.
+ [(» - l)r,(j8o) - paYn+l(pa) With this notation, it is a simple matter to list the expressions for
(Pa) 2
the edge conditions from which the frequency determinants for
- C 3 |n/„i.(Pa) + paln+l(pa) the other cases can be formed. These conditions, with their ex-
pressions in this abbreviated notation, are as follows:

Table 1 Nondimensional frequency parameter for clamped outside and Table 2 Nondimensional frequency parameter for simply-supported
clamped Inside case outside and simply-supported Inside case

b/a b/a
Curve N o . of Nodal N o . of Nodol Curve N o . of Nodal N o . of Nodal
No. Circles Diameters No. Circles Diameters
0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9

150.0 1354.0 1 0 0 8.8 12.8 24.2 66.6 598.0

1 0 0 16.5 27.4 54.0
151.0 1355.0 2 0 1 10.1 14.1 25.3 67.5 598.0
2 0 1 17.2 28.2 54.6

152.0 3 0 2 15.7 18.3 28.5 70.0 601.0

3 0 2 22.2 30.9 56.5 -

4 0 3 31.0 36.3 59.9 155.0 1358.0 4 0 3 24.2 25.4 33.9 74.1 604.0

5 1 0 31.3 49.5 96.0 266.0 2390.0

5 1 0 45.6 75.9 149.0 415.0 3733.0
3733.0 6 1 1 34.2 51.2 97.2 267.0 2390.0
6 1 1 47.3 77.1 150.0 415.0
7 1 2 43.4 56.5 101.0 269.0 2392.0
7 1 2 54.8 80.9 153.0 417.0
8 1 3 57.3 65.5 107.0 274.0 2396.0
8 1 3 67.8 87.7 157.0 420.0 3737.0

260~
>-
u
40 §=> 40-
a
UJ
en
u.
20-

0 0.2 ^ Q4 ' 06 ' 08 ' 10 0 0.2 0.4 ' 0 6 ^ Q8 TO

RATIO OF RADII (b/ Q ) RATIO OF RADII (b/ a )

Fig. 2 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for Fig. 3 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for
clamped-damped case simply-supported simply-supported case

Journal of Applied Mechanics DECEMBER 1965 / 927

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 DESIGN DATA AND METHODS

Table 3 Nondimensional frequency parameter for free outside and free Table 5 Nondimensional frequency parameter for free outside and
inside case clamped inside case

b/a N o . of Nodal No. of Nodal

b/a
Curve
Curve No. of Nodal No. of Nodal
No. Circles Diameters
No. Circles Diameters 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9

3 0 2 3.21 2.97 2.59 2.16 1.78 2 0 1 1.90 3.83 8.04 22.7 209.0

5 1 0 5.31 5.06 5.64 7.97 21.1 1 0 0 2.56 4.03 7.88 22.4 91.7

4 0 3 7.53 7.42 6.92 5.97 4.93 3 0 2 3.40 4.82 8.90 23.8 210.0

6 1 1 12.4 11.1 10.4 13.3 33.7 4 0 3 7.53 8.03 11.2 25.8 213.0

7 1 2 21.1 20.0 18.8 22.9 56.8 5 1 0 15.3 25.8 51.5 145.0 587.0

9 2 0 23.1 30.5 55.9 152.0 1355.0 6 1 1 16.5 27.0 52.5 146.0 1325.0

8 1 3 32.1 30.9 28.7 33.7 82.0 7 1 2 22.4 30.8 55.5 149.0 1328.0

10 2 1 35.7 35.6 58.3 153.0 1356.0 8 1 3 32.2 37.6 60.6 153.0 1332.0

RATIO OF RADII (b/ Q )

Fig. 4 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for Fig. 6 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for
free-free case free-clamped case

Table 4 Nondimensional frequency parameter for free outside and Table 6 Nondimensional frequency parameter for simply supported
simply supported inside case outside and free inside case

b/a b/a
Curve No. of Nodal N o . of Nodal
Curve N o . of Nodol No. of Nodal
No. Circles Diameters 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 No. Circles Diameters 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9

2 0 1 1.39 2.01 2.94 5.05 15.7 1 0 0 2.94 2.82 3.07 4.20 10.7

1 0 0 2.09 2.07 2.49 3.74 10.4 2 0 1 8.40 7.76 7.03 8.06 18.0

3 0 2 3.28 3.68 4.83 8.13 25.8 3 0 2 15.4 14.6 13.5 14.7 31.0

4 0 3 7.53 7.63 8.49 12.4 37.2 5 1 0 17.8 22.4 39.8 106.0 938.0

5 1 0 12.6 19.1 36.9 103.0 929.0 4 0 3 24.2 23.5 21.6 22.5 45.1

6 1 1 14.6 20.9 38.3 104.0 930.0 6 1 1 29.1 27.7 42.3 108.0 940.0

7 1 2 21.7 26.0 42.2 107.0 933.0 7 1 2 41.9 39.4 49.1 112.0 943.0

8 1 3 32.1 34.3 48.6 112.0 937.0 9 2 0 45.3 65.0 123.0 338.0 3029.0

RATIO OF RADII (b/ Q ) RATIO OF RADII ( % )

Fig. 5 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for Fig. 7 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for
free-simply supported case simply supported-free case

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 DESIGN DATA AND METHODS
Table 7 Nondimensional frequency parameter for simply supported Table 8 Nondimensional frequency parameter for clamped outside and
outside and clamped inside case free inside case

b/a b/a
Curve N o . of Nodal No. of Nodal Curve No. of Nodal N o . of Nodal
No. Diameters No. Circles Diameters
0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9

1 0 0 6.15 6.91 10.7 26.1 218

1 0 0 10.8 18.1 36.2 102 929
2 0 1 12.8 11.8 13.3 27.4 219
2 0 1 11.5 19.0 36.9 103 930
16.2 3 0 2 20.9 19.7 19.4 31.2 221
3 0 2 21.9 39.1 104 931
4 0 3 24.2 .5 1 0 23.9 31.3 56.8 153.0 1343
27.5 43.0 107 933
4 0 3 30.9 29.7 27.7 37.1 224
5 1 0 36.4 60.8 120.0 334 3020
6 1 1 36.3 36.2 58.9 154.0 1344.
6 1 1 38.0 62.0 121.0 335 3020
7 1 2 45.2 65.9 124.0 337 3022 7 1 2 50.5 47.8 65.1- 157. C 1347

8 1 3 57.7 72.8 128.0 341 9 2 0 54.7 80.1 153.0 419.0 3743

3025

100- 100

80-

1
60 J 60

>-
o
§ 4 0 -
Z>
a
UJ
a.
U_
20-

0 ~02 ' Q4 Q6 Q8 10 0 0.2 0.4 06 Q8 10

RATIO OF RADII (b/ Q ) RATIO OF RADII (b/Q )

Fig. 8 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for Fig. 9 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for
simply supported-damped case clamped-free case

Clamped-Clamped circles are considered which exist away from either boundary
when a given mode is excited. The eight lowest modes, as they
£) = (), E = 0, D' = 0, E' = 0
occur at b/a equal to 0.1 and v equal to 0.3, are shown in both the
Free-Free graphs, Figs. 2-10, and Tables 1-9. The curves on these plots
indicate the relationship between a nondimensional quantity,
.-1 = ( ) , B = 0, A' = 0, B' = 0
X = piyaWEh")'/ 2 , which is proportional to frequency and the
Simply Supported-Simply Supported ratio of radii for the different modes. The actual modal con-
figuration for each curve can be discerned from the table adjacent
A =0, D' — 0, A' = 0, D' = 0 to each graph.
Free-Simply Supported As b/a approaches zero, each of the curves tends to a finite
limit in all but two cases. This limit for these curves can be de-
.-1 = ( ) , B = 0, A' = 0, D' = 0 termined approximately by extending the curve until it intersects
with the ordinate. However, if more accurate values of the nondi-
Si niply Supported-Free
mensional frequency parameter are desired when b/a is in-
A =0, D = 0, A' = 0, B' = 0 definitely reduced, various books [6, 7] tabulate certain of these
cases. The two exceptions to the foregoing are for the modes
Simply Supported-Clamped characterized by one nodal diameter for the cases of a plate with
A =0, D = 0, D' = 0, E' = 0 a free outside edge and either a clamped or simply supported inner
edge. The limiting frequency for each of these modes is zero
Clamped-Free since the motion is simply a rigid-body rotation of the disk about
D = 0, E = 0, A' = 0, B' = 0 a diameter. In contrast to all other conditions, curves 1 and 2
(see Table 1 for their modal designation) for the free-free case are
Clamped-Simply Supported not plotted. The explanation of this omission is that the "vibra-
D = n, E = 0, A ' = 0, D' = 0 tion" in these modes is once again characterized by a rigid-body
motion, but this time such a vibration applies for all values of
Numerical Results b/a.
The roots of each of the nine determinants were calculated An investigation was also made into the effect of Poisson's ratio,
using machine computations. The Bessel functions were re- since it occurs as a parameter in all but one of the frequenc3' de-
placed by their approximate polynomial equivalents [5]. The terminants. Each of the equations was reevaluated for values of
quantity /3a was then determined for specified values of b/a (be- v between 0 and 0.5, and no significant variation was noted in the
tween 0.1 and 0.9) and Poisson's ratio. The calculations cover roots of a single one. The maximum difference between a given
those modes which can be characterized as having up to three set of curves, for different values of v, seems to be between 3 and 5
concentric nodal circles and three uniformly spaced nodal di- percent. Hence the results presented in this study for v equal to
ameters. It might be mentioned here that only those nodal 0.3 should be reasonably accurate for most engineering materials.

Journal of Applied Mechanics DECEMBER 1965 / 929

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 DESIGN DATA AND METHODS
Table 9 Nondimensional frequency parameter for clamped outside and
simply-supported inside case

b/a
Curve N o . of Nodol N o . of Nodal
No. Circles Diameters 0.7 0.9
0.1 0.3 0.5

1 0 0 13.7 20.4 38.7 106 938

2 0 15.2 21.7 39.6 106 939

3 0 2 21.4 25.9 42.4 108 940

4 0 3 30.9 33.1 47.3 112 943

5 1 0 39.7 63.1 122.0 338 3029

6 1 1 42.7 64.8 123.0 339 3029

7 1 2 52.5 70.0 127.0 341 3031

8 i 3 67.3 78.8 132.0 345 3034

N o Circles 2 Diameters

~ 60-

40-

2 Circles No Diameters

1 1 T | I 1 1 1 1 J

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 T.O

RATIO OF RADII (b/Q)

Fig. 10 Nondimensional frequency parameter versus ratio of radii for
clamped simply-supported case

The only curves which were not dependent on Poisson's ratio

were those calculated for the clamped-clamped boundary con-
dition.

Experimental Procedure
1 Circle 4 Diameters
The test equipment consisted of a shake table and associated
apparatus. The specimens were made of 0.064-in-thick Lexan. 3 Fig. 11 Sand patterns
The properties of Lexan as determined from a tensile test are

Modulus = 3.8 X 105 lb t /in. 2 (psi) 4 Experimental Results

Density = 0.0417 lb/in. 3
Poisson's ratio = 0.38
The first plate (outer diameter of 10 in.) had a clamped inner
boundary and a free outer edge. The clamping was obtained by
using two 2-in. aluminum hubs fastened above and below the
plate. The second plate (outer diameter, 5 in.) was clamped
around its outer edge with the inner edge free. This plate was
held on its outer boundary by two aluminum rings. Various size
holes were bored in the plate to obtain different values of b/a.
Because of the great difference in stiffness between the Lexan and
the aluminum clamps, it is reasonable to assume that the plates
were rigidly clamped.
The natural frequencies were determined by three methods.
Visual identification of the modes was made with a strobotac
where possible. A t higher frequencies, resonance was detected
by observing the current (which reaches a maximum at resonance)
to the driver coil of the shaker. The mode shapes were also de-
termined by observing sand patterns as shown in Fig. 11.
3 Registered Trade Name, General Electric Company, Chemical
and Metallurgical Division, Pittsfield, Mass.
4 lb(/in. J is recommended by the International Oiganization for
Standardization.
Table 10 gives the results for the case of a clamped inner
boundary and free outside edge. The results agree within a few
percent of the theoretical values.
The results of the second test, in which the outer edge was
clamped and the inner edge free, are shown in Fig. 12. The
errors incurred during this test were larger than those found in the
first test. This may be due to the fact that the ratio of the
stiffness of the plate to the clamp was larger than in the first
case.
Summary
The classical theory of flexural motions of elastic plates was
used to determine the natural frequencies of uniform annular
plates for nine combinations of boundary conditions. The results
based on this theory are valid only for wavelengths of the de-
flected form of the plate during vibration which are long in com-
parison to its thickness. This restriction must be kept in mind
when using the numerical data, given in an earlier section, which
are primarily presented in graphical form with curves for eight
modes being shown for each set of edge conditions. From these
curves, it can be seen that a variety of relationships between X
and b/a are possible. These range from the situation where (a) X
constantly increases, (6) X initially decreases and then increases,

930 / DECEMBER 1965 Transactions of the A S M E

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 DESIGN DATA AND METHODS
Table 10 Experimental results for a plate clamped on its inner boundary
and free outside
Mode Shape

N o . of Nodol N o . of Nodal Calculated Frequency Experimental Frequency

Circles Diameters (cps) (cps)

0 0 40 39.5

0 1 24 23.5
0 2 47 46.0

0 3 98 96.0

1 0 249 252.0

1 1 208 204.0

1 2 295 320.0

1 3 402 415.0

2 0 717 748.0

2 1 577 545.0

2 2 695 710.0

2 3 855 845.0

3 0 1385 1395.0

3 1 1141 1130.0

3 2 1274 1270.0
3 3 1478 1450.0

(c) X continually decreases as b/a increases. Figs. 2-10 depict

these relationships.
It was demonstrated also that Poisson's ratio is not a sig-
nificant factor for calculating the roots of the equations. This
conclusion was confirmed experimentally as evidenced by the good
agreement between the theoretical values with v = 0.3 and those
found for the Lexan plate which has v = 0.38. These experi-
ments were also useful from the point of view of helping partially
to check the accuracy of the computations. A further confirma-
tion of their accuracy was obtained by noting that Southwell's
findings were identical with those given in this paper.
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to express their gratitude to J. Dubil and L.
Latshaw for their help with the numerical computation and to
S. Skocz, Jr., for his assistance in conducting the experiments.
References
1 G. Kirchhoff, "Uber die Schwingungen einer elastischen
Scheibe," Crelle's Journal (German), vol. 40, 1850.
2 R. V. Southwell, "On the Free Transverse Vibrations of a Uni-
form Circular Disc Clamped at Its Center; and on the Effects of
Fig. 12 Test results for a plate clamped on its outer boundary with a
free inner edge
Rotation," Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, England, vol.
101, 1922, p. 133.
3 W. Hort and M. Koenig, "Studien Uber Schwingungen von
Kreisplatten und Ringen," Zeilschrift fttr technische Physik (German),
vol. 10, 1928, p. 373.
4 P. Narayana Raju, "Vibrations of Annular Plates," Journal of
the Aeronautical Society of India, vol. 14, 1962, p. 37.
5 A. J. M. Hitchcock, "Polynomial Approximations to Bessel
Functions," Mathematical Tables and Other Aids to Computation, Na-
tional Research Council, vol. 11, 1957, p. 86; now titled, Mathematics
of Computation.
6 C. M. Harris and C. E. Crede, editors, Shock and Vibration
Handbook, chapter 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N. Y „
1961.
7 W. FlUgge, editor, Handbook of Engineering Mechanics, chapter
61, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, N. Y „ 1962.

Journal of Applied Mechanics DECEMBER 1965 / 931

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