Vibrations of Structures

Module V: Vibrations of Plates

Lesson 40: Approximate Analysis of Plates

Contents:

1. Square Plate on Circular Support

2. Vibrations of a Stiffened Plate

Keywords: Approximate modal analysis, Ritz method, Circular support,

Stiffened plate
Approximate Analysis of Plates

1 Square Plate on Circular Support

Figure 1: A square plate simply-supported on a circle of radius a

Consider a uniform square Kirchhoff plate of side 2l simply-supported on

a circular support of radius a, as shown in Fig. 1. Using the non-dimensional

quantities x̃ = x/l, ỹ = y/l, w̃ = w/l, ˜l = a/l and t̃ = t/l2 D/ρh, the

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kinetic and potential energy expressions may be written as

D 1 1 2
Z Z
T = w dx dy, (1)
2 −1 −1 ,t

and
1 1
D
Z Z
V = [(w,xx + w,yy )2 + 2(1 − ν)(w,xy
2
− w,xx w,yy )] dx dy (2)
2 −1 −1

where D = Eh3 /[12(1−ν 2)] and the tilde have been dropped for convenience.

2
 An estimate of the fundamental circular frequency may be obtained using

the admissible function W (x, y) = x2 + y 2 − a2 in the Rayleigh quotient

R1 R1 2 2
2 −1 −1 [(W,xx + W,yy ) + 2(1 − ν)(W,xy − W,xx W,yy )] dx dy
Ω̃ = R1 R1 .
W 2 dx dy
−1 −1

This gives the non-dimensional fundamental circular frequency as

 1/2
180(1 + ν)
Ω̃ =
28 − 60a2 + 45a4
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The dimensional circular eigenfrequencies are obtained as ω n = Ωn/l D/ρh.

One may determine a so that the plate is supported optimally, i.e., the

fundamental frequency is maximized with respect to a. The optimal value

of the radius of the support is obtained by differentiating the above fre-

quency expression with respect to the radius and putting it to zero to obtain

aoptimal = 2/3. The value of Ω̃optimal

p p
1 = 45(1 + ν)/2 which is a maxima,

as can be checked.

For a more detailed analysis, one may use the Ritz approach using the

expansion
XX
w(x, y, t) = p(m,n) (x2 + y 2 − a2 )xmy n

to obtain the discretized equations of the plate. Following this approach,

the first few non-dimensional circular eigenfrequencies for a = a optimal are

obtained as

Ωn = {6.4279, 10.7762, 10.7762, 15.0712, 25.6850, 36.5753}.

The first four modes of vibrations are presented in Fig. 2. The variation

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 Ω1 = 6.4279 Ω2 = 10.7762

Ω3 = 10.7762 Ω4 = 15.0712

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Figure 2: Modes of vibrations a square plate simply-supported on a circle of radius a = l 2/3

Ωn
60

50

40

30
Ω4
20
Ω2 , Ω3
10
Ω1
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
a

Figure 3: Variation of first few eigenfrequencies of a simply-supported square plate with

support radius a

4
of the non-dimensional eigenfrequencies with the support radius a is shown

in Fig. 3. It is observed from this figure that aoptimal for the fundamental

frequency may not optimal for the higher modes.

2 Vibrations of a stiffend plate

Beam

2a x

Beam

2a

Figure 4: A square plate stiffened with two beams on two edges

Consider a square plate clamped at two opposite edges and stiffened by

beams on the free edges, as shown in Fig. 4. We assume that the beam is

of the same material as the plate. The kinetic and potential energy of the

system can be written as, respectively,

a a a
1 1
Z Z Z
T = ρhw,t2 dxdy + ρA[(w,t|y=−1)2 + (w,t |y=1)2]dx (3)
2 −a −a 2 −a

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and

D a a
Z Z
V = [(w,xx + w,yy )2 + 2(1 − ν)(w,xy2
− w,xx w,yy )] dx dy +
2 −a −a
EI a
Z
[(w,xx |y=−a)2 + (w,xx |y=a)2] dx dy (4)
2 −a

where D = Eh3 /[12(1 − ν 2)]. Using the non-dimensional quantities x̃ = x/a,

p
ỹ = y/a, w̃ = w/a, and t̃ = t/a2 D/ρh, the Lagrangian may be expressed

as
Z 1 1 1
D A
Z Z
L = w,t2 dxdy + [(w,t|y=−1)2 + (w,t |y=1)2]dx
2 −1 −1 ha −1
Z 1 Z 1
− [(w,xx + w,yy )2 + 2(1 − ν)(w,xy
2
− w,xx w,yy )] dx dy
−1 −1
EI 1
Z 
− [(w,xx|y=−1)2 + (w,xx |y=1)2] dx dy (5)
Da −1

where the tilde have been dropped for convenience.

The admissible functions for the problem must take care of the zero deflec-

tion and slope at x = −1 and 1. To this end, construct the Ritz expansion
XX
w(x, y, t) = pij (t)(1 + x)2(1 − x)2xiy j (6)
i j

where pij (t) are the coordinates. Using this expansion in (5), one obtains the

Lagrangian of the discretized system. One can then obtain the discretized

equations of motion, and finally calculate the eigenfrequencies and eigenfunc-

tions. Taking A/ha = 0.2 and EI/Da = 0.7, the first four non-dimensional

circular eigenfrequencies are obtained as

Ωn = {6.3027, 7.7949, 9.7030, 16.3111}.

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 Ω1 = 6.3027 Ω2 = 7.7949

Ω3 = 9.7030 Ω4 = 16.3111

Figure 5: Modes of vibrations of a stiffened square plate

p
The dimensional circular frequencies are obtained as ωn = Ωn /a2 D/ρh.

The corresponding modes of vibrations are shown in Fig. 5.