Solution of some plate bending

problems using the boundary

element method *

Qinghua Du, Zhenhan Yao and Guoshu Song

Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsing Hua University, Beijing, PeopleS Republic

of China
(Received 25 April 1983)

Some fundamental aspects of the boundary element method of the

Kirchhoff theory of thin plate flexure are given. The direct boundary
integral equation method with higher conforming properties (using first-
order Hermitian interpolation for plate displacement o, and zero-order
Hermitian interpolation for angle of rotation 8, the moment M and the
equivalent shear V) are used for several computational examples. They
are: square plate with simply-supported or clamped edges, the same square
plate with square central opening and the cantilevered triangular plates.
The results of computation as compared with some known experimental
and theoretical results showed that the numerical schemes seemed to be
satisfactory for the practical applications.

Key words: mathematical model, plate blending, boundary element

method, Kirchhoff theory

The Kirchhoff theory of thin plate flexure demands a Formulation of plate bending problems
governing equation of transverse deflection o and also
The fundamental equations of a thin plate with distributed
certain boundary requirements of the deflection o, and the
transverse loadp(x,y) are (see Figure 1):
normal angle of rotation 0 3 &.&n, the edge bending
moment M and equivalent shear I/‘, but for plate with the equation of equilibrium
corners there should be some further restrictions on plate
(Mij),ij + p = 0 (1)
edge twist and concentric force. These can be cast into the
weighted residual formulations.‘-3*‘4 By properly choosing the geometric relations
the fundamental solution for the plate bending equation
Kij = - O,ij (2)
operator, the basic boundary integral equation of o can be
thus obtained. This paper then suggests that by use of
do/at (tangential derivative) and ao/an (normal derivative)
together constitutes a three-equation scheme for boundary
element computations. The computational results of some
plate problems show that this scheme is satisfactory for the
practical applications of the boundary element method to
certain Kirchhoff plate flexure problems. Some previous
work4-’ has been noted. In general,- the simpler boundary
interpolation schemes were adopted.

*Part of this paper was presented at the Fourth International Con-

ference on Boundary Element Methods in Engineering, University
of Southampton, September 1982 Figure 1

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February 15

 BEM for plate bending problems: Q. Du, Z. Yao and G. Song

the constitutive equations Corner point 4;

Mii = DiiklKkl Or K ii = Cijkd’fkl (3)

and for isotropic case

Dijkl = D [VSij 6 kt+ (1 - V)6ik &jr] @a)

or
1
cijkl = [(l + v)hk6jl-V6ij6kll WI
D(l - v2)

where D = Eh3/12(1 - v’) is the plate flexural rigidity, K

stands for curvature, o the transverse deflection. And,

edge moment Figure2
M = Mijninj (4a)
It should be noted that:
edge twist
PuF= PUP= r
T = Miiniti (4b)
rWnrv=rsnP=q (8)
transverse shear
While the conventional clamped, simply-supported and free
Q, = niMii,i (4c) edge can be listed as:
the equivalent shear w(s) = 0,13(s) = 0 V(x,y) E r” (clamped)
w(s) = 0, M(s) = 0 V(x,y) E rs (simply-supported)
v=Qn+Z (4d)
M(s) = 0, V(s) = 0 V(x,y) E rf (free) I

From the basic equations (l)-(4) the plate flexural equation (9)
is: These are the cases for which, W = 8 = R = r = 0, and for
such cases:
p2v2w _ KG y)

D
WX,Y)E~ rc= rwnr?, P=rWnP, rf=r”nrv(iO)
In equations (6)-( 10) the (-) are given values, s is the
And for smooth boundary (Liapunov) r, on the boundary:
boundary curvilinear coordinate, t and n stand for tangen-
w(s) = Q(s) W,Y) E rw tial and normal directions, p is radius of curvature of the
boundary curve r, and rw, Fe, I’M I” are those parts of
e(s) = g = e(s) WX,Y) E re boundary where w, 8, M, V are spelified.
For a boundary with a finite number, m, of corner
points (Figure 2) the corner conditions are:
a2
M(s)=-D V’-(l--~)~
1 w Jump of twist, [T lqi z T(q[) - T(q;) = F
i= 1,2,...,m (11)
-D[-$+v($+$;)]u=I@) where F is the given corner force.

V(x, y) E rm (6) Boundary integral equations

a a2 For the biharmonic operator the fundamental solution
V(s) s -D ; V2 + (1 - v) - - C.J
asan at1 &(Q, P) satisfies:
V2V20s = A(P) (12)
where A(P) is the Dirac distribution at P, then:
1
w”(Q, P) =Gr2 lnr (13)

where r is the distance from any point Q to a loaded point

= T(s) w, 7) E r” P. Thus the well known Betti formula138 can be formulated:
where:
\ Dw(P)- /p&dn+ ~[wV(ws)--(+JS
T(s)=-D(l-u)g Cl r

1
a20
=__D(l_v) -_~~ ) +M(o) e(a”, --B(o)M(ws)l ds + $I (oI[ T(w”)ll
asan p as
(7)
- + f
Fc.J~)~~ (wl[T(w”>I-UT(o)1 dJqi = 0
e,=-D$V2u i=m,+l
/
(14)

16 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February

 BEM for plate bending problems: 0. Du, Z. Yao and G. Song

whereqj(i=1,2,... , ml) for corner points on rV, namely

the points for given concentric force; and qi (i = ml -I 1, [oV(os) - V(w) us + M(u) O(d)-e(o)M(uS)] ds
I
. . . ) m) are corner points for rw. r
When P moves to p on I’, equation (14) becomes:

+7
DC(P) w(p) -
s
St
jx.2 dR +
I
r
[oI’(ws) - V(o) os i=l
(O([T(Os)IJ-FFos)qi

(15b)
+M(o)B(oS)- f3(w)M(ws)] ds
For the purpose of neatness, Vi, 7i (i = 1,2) are used for
plate boundary generalized displacements and forces, i.e.:
i=l
vl=w, Q-8, 713V, 72=--M (18)

Then for achieving the higher conforming properties, the

+i=z +1(am”)B- U~(~)ll 4qi = 0 (15)
boundary element interpolation will adopt: vu1 with C’, the
1
first-order Hermitian interpolation and v2, rr, T* with Co,
This is an equation with only boundary unknowns, so this the zero-order Hermitian interpolation. Thus for each
is the basic boundary integral equation of plate flexure node there are three unknowns: v,, v2 and dvrlds (i.e., w,
problems. In equation (I 5) the DC(~) o(p) term is the aw/&r and h/at); so three independent boundary inte-
singular integration of JoV(w”) ds without the Cauchy gration equations are needed. These correspond to three
principal value for p. This can be rewritten as: generalized forces acting on a point P -+p of an infinite
plate. They are:
P
v(d) - v(0) f-2 + hqw) e(d) - e(0)M(0s)]
J[a ds 1
r
vt(4,p) =,r’lnr
I
ia1
ar
+4m.4n- v&67,p).-
at (P)
vt(q,p)=&r(Zlnr+1)-
at(P)
a ar
V&(Q,
PJ= - Vfl(q,p)= &r(Z lnrf l)-
+ f (ouqd)n- u7yo)n djqi = 0 W) .[I an (PI an(P)
I

i=m,+l
(19)
These equations can be derived by weighted residual So the general boundary integral equations of plate flexure
formulation,i or from a bilinear form9 including a term are:
with invariant operator 04( ), according to Mensfie1d.r”’
It has been named as the generalized Rayleigh-Green
identity. Iri(q) v~(q,p)-vs(~)~i(~~P)l ds(q)
s
For eliminating the area integral term a particular solu-
tion wo(x, y) can be introduced for the uniformly distri-
buted load p, i.e.:
j=l
c&(x, y) = & +Y4)
(x4+ 2X2YZ (16) (i= 1,2;k= 1,2,3) (20)

where the related values derived from the fundamental

the solution of the problem denoted by o* and
solution are:
o*=o+o 0 (17)
and for solving the homogeneous equation:

v2v2w = 0 V(x,.JJ) E a Pa)

and vi&, P)
1cqj
w(s) = G(s) = ij* - wo w>Y) E rw
1v’-(1-&at21(s)7$&P)
1
&(q,p)=D
e(s)= B(S)=8*-e(~,) w, V)E re
M(s)= B(s)=47*- M(w0) wx,y)ErM (64
V(s)= V(s)= V”- V(w,) ~x,Y) E rv Fgqi, p) = - (1 - v)D

~2yqj=F-F*-~zyoo)jqf z=1,2,...,mI (114

where O*, e*,I”iT, r, -P* - represent the given values of the
problem, but W, 0, M, V, F, stand for the given values of
the problem for homogeneous equations. Then the bound-
ary integral equation is:
(21)
In these expressions [ ](p), [ 1~~)denote the operator
acted on singular boundary point p or any boundary point
q. As has been shown in Figure 2 the local coordinates [pq
withp as the origin are directed in n and t directions (for p

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February 17

 BEM for plate bending problems: Q. Du, 2. Yao and G. Song

as a corner point, use the n and t of p- as the local co- 87rr&(q, p) = (2 lnr + 1) c
ordinates). With c@, q), r = 4;” and the n direction of
2 2
point 4, directed as 01= (n, .t), thus the computational 8nus3*(q,p) = 2 lnr + 1 + -+ g2 coscx +-+ tq since
equations are: ( 1
8n
8nz$i(q,p) = rz lnr +(4>P)
87r&(q,p) = (2 lnr + l)(t coscy + q since)
2(1 -v)
8n = -; Kq2-8 cosa - 2gq sina] + ____
5 &(4> P) r6

x {sina[2(g2-3q2) [q cos2a- 2(q2-3[2)q2 sin2011

2(1-v)
=+ cost + q sincw) + ___ -cosc~[(6~~q*-~~--q~)~0~2~~--4(~~-q~)~qsin2~]}
r4
4(1 -v)
x {sincw[(v2 - 12) q cos 2a + 2,$q2 sin2a] +----- q[(q’-t2) sin2ct! + 2tq cos2cw]
pr4
-cosol[(g*-q*)g cos2ol+ 2t2q sin2a]}
8n
5 &(s, P)
+ 1 [2gq sin2a + (q’- t2) cos 2~~1
pr2
l-v
=; 2g------ r2 [tq2(3 sin2 cy- cos’(Y) + c3
$X4.P) I

+ (l’ - q2) q sin 2a]

=4(lnr+l)-(1 -v) I
2(1--v)

1
2 2 $FS(~~,p)=--q[(q2-.$2)cos2&-2~qsin2~l;,
x 2 lnr+ I+-((F2sin2~+q2cos2~)--[qsin2a!
rv2 r2
(22c)
2(1 -v)
FFS@, p) = - ___ cos2a + $(q’- g2) sin 2011,
r2 II@?

Numerical schemes and results of computations

(22a) The discretization of the plate boundary are started from,
say, certain corner points or points with jumps in boundary
8n&(4,p) = (2 Inr + 1) q curvature, and thus a number of boundary segments are
2 2 formed. For each segment some boundary elements are
8rr~~~(q,p)= 21nr+1+-+q2 sincu+~&cosa set up with the given geometric boundary data. For the
( 1 plate problems the straight line elements and circular arc
elements have been worked out in the program BEM-PB.
F&(%P) In this paper the starting point is denoted by A and the
ending point by B, then the interpolation formulae are:

=-~[($‘-q2)sino-2~qcosa]+~ VI(~) = k@u,(4 + f&N9 \

x {sincr[(6t2q2 - t4 - q4) cos 2a I

)
+ 4(q2 - 12) tq sin 2cu]
u* (4) = Hpu* (A) + Hg)U2(B) (23)
- cosc~[2(q*-3~~)~7) cos2cYt 2($2-3q2)E2 sin201]} (0)TV
71(q) = Ho, + H$!‘TI(B-)
4(1-v) 72(q) = H&(A+) + H&2(K) )
+--- $[(t2-q2) sin2Q - 2.$q cos2a]
pr4 where the J$) is the Hermitian interpolation polynomial,
for the first-order Hermitian:
;i22(q>P)
Hi:) = (2 + <)(l - 074, H& = (2 - C)( 1+ 074
l-v @=(I + {)(l-{)2/4, H$;)=-(1-{)(1+<)2/4 I
=; 2q--- r2 [qt2(3 cos’ (Y- sin’ a)
(
Wa)
+ q3 - (g2 - q2) E sin2a] and for the zero-order Hermitian:
I
87r Hi;) = (1 + {)/2 (24b)
5 F&i, P)
where S is the local coordinate for the element. For A,
c = -1 and B, c = 1.5 is related to the coordinate x,y.
2(1 -v)
= - 7 Eu(52-q2) cos2a + 2.$q sin201qi
x(q) = &)x(A) + H@x(B)
(straight line) (25a)
Wb) y(4) = @)YW + @?y(B) I

18 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February

 BEM forplate bending problems: 0. Du, Z. Yao and G. Song

x(q) =x0(s) + P v2@+h

x cos(H&%#J(A)
+ H&b(B))
F (2) cosp]
Y(4)= YOGI)+ P
x sin (H$)&4) + H&r)~B))
For these two types of element in equation (23), h is the
1 (circular arc) (25b)

72mc
= + &[Z

D
(CT)+

half length of the arc element. For equation (23) dvr/ds,

v2, TV, r2 are specified with A’, B- these allow the dis- = &-&
continuity of related values (CJJ stands for (r^,x)).
For the smooth boundary element the nodal unknowns
x(coPp-vsin2@*2~(c’)sinficos/3] (28)
involved can be expressed as shown in Table 1. For the
corner point c, there are the following nodal unknowns,
VI(C), ~(0, uz(c+), (h/~)@-), (dzOs)(c+). F(c)
But there are the following relations (which makes
possible the reduction of five unknowns to three unkowns): c’s’
(1- v)Dsin/3
u2(c-) = - cos~v2(c+) - sin/3 % (c’) .X[T2(cT) - r2(c’)(cos2fl + v sin2(3)]
1
(26) 1
f s r2(c+) sin fi cos fl
‘: (c-) = sinjjv2(c+) - co@ dvl (c+)
ds
aw i ao f
where in equation (26) /I is the inner angle of the corner v2(Cf)If=----g (c ) co@ f at (c ) sir@
point (Figure 2).
Table 2 gives the required equations (26)-(31) for the
corner treatment.
Equations (27)-(31) are listed as follows:
D a26
Tz(C_) = - - (c‘) - $ (C-)
sin’/3 [ at2
D

x(cos2/3-vsin2f3)-2$t(c-)sinflcosfl] cos’fl+ sin20

1
a2c2 (29)
D a20 a% x(sin2p+vcos2p)*2(1-v)- an at (c’) sinficosfl
72(c+) = - - (c-) - j-+- (c+)(cos2/3 - v sin201
sin?/3 [ at2 a%
+ vD ar2 (c’)

1
a%
+2- an at(c+) sin0 cos0
F(c)
a%
F(c)=-D(l-v) an (c’) - Ig (c-)] =TD(l-v) ~(c~),C-~U2(ci,
[

1
(27) 1 dvr
+ p z (0

1
[at 1
Table 1 Smooth boundary nodal unknowns
ao aa
Type of boundary
pi
, Pi Nodal Integral
vz(c-) = - - -(c’) + z (c-) cos p
sin0
unknowns equation No. k

Clamped edge rV1nrv2 7,,7* I,3

v2@+)
Simply-supported edge 1, 3
Free edge 1,2.3 1 aw
dv,/ds
=-
sin 0

Table 2 Corner point treatment

Type of corner , Independent boundary unknowns Equation no. used Integral equation No. k

Clamped-clamped r,(c), rl(cf) (27) 1.2

Clamped-simply-supported 7I(c-), 7*(C+) (28) 1,2
Clamped-free 7thmped (29)
Simply supported-simply supported r,(c), r,tc+j; (F)* (30) : 2 (3)’
simply-supported-free [r~r Vt]simply-supported(F)X (31) 1: 2: (3) l
Free-free vl, v,(c+), dv,/ds (c’) (26) 1.2.3

()“P=n/2

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February 19

BEM for plate bending problems: 0. Du, Z. Yao and G. Song

F(c) (30)

1
_~ F2(c-) - T2(c+)(cos* /I + v sin2 /3) ri
(I--v)D
Vqj E rv* (324
sin/3 1
x __ + - F2(c+) sinp co@ (P f 7m As for the integration, if qi is not in coincidence with p
cosp D I then it is non-singular, so that the usual Gauss quadrature
can be used. If qi coincides with p then for first equation
ao ~
v2(c’) If = - uz(cT) cosp f z (c ) sin 0 (k = l), the integration equation (32b), and for the
second and third equations (k = 2,3), the integration
equation (32d) forms the singular integration of In rs, thus
special Gauss quadrature still can be used. But for the
higher order singular integrations such as:
(31)
a20
+=+D(l-V) -&c’),,+&)
P
1 (334
-___ T2(c’) - 72(c’)(cos2 /3+ v sin2 0)
(1-v)D )I

(6 # n/2)
/

This will constitute sufficient number of linear algebraic

equations for the nodal unknowns. For the purpose of
illustration, it is given here for a typical smooth boundary
node, qi with forward and backward element ri+, Q the
related coefficients are:

- u2(4i) Ht?7%2(4 9 4i) h(q)

Wa)
r;

5 ul(qJlkO+ u2(qi)I,, + 2 (4i)I~ (k=2,3)

W)
can be transformed to non-singular integration by
substituting some simple particular solution. For example,
for equation (33a), by substituting w f 1 into the discre-
tized equation (20) the following can be obtained:

I,0 = %(q >si> Wd

I
(32b) r-r; -r;

+
s
ri
H&t)Gl(q
>4i) ds(q)

(32~) Wa)

20 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February

 BEM for pla te bending problems: 0. Du, 2. Yao and G. Song
and for Ike, I,, , Ik2 in equation (33b), they can be ob-
tained by using o G 1, w = g, o = 77,and in the case of
straight line boundary:

Figure 4 Clamped edge square plate with uniformly distributed load

Ikl =
s
[i%l(qa 4J + COSWX~~ 4i)ld$q)
r-r;-r;

Figure 5 Uniformly loaded simply-supported square plate with

central square opening

+ (~-@h) Gi(4,4Jds(4) + (n-HS)h)

s I
rrz r;

x &(4,4i) ds(4) + f IWX4j, 4JI k=2,3

j=1
Qj+Qi

WI
Some similar singular integration processes can be per- Figure 6 Uniformly loaded clamped edge square plate with central
square opening
formed for the corner points.
By using the above-mentioned numerical scheme the
following uniformly distributed loaded plate problems
have been worked out. They are: (1) simply-supported
and clamped square plates; (2) simply-supported and
clamped square plates with square central opening; (3)
cantelevered triangular plates.
The results of computation are shown in Figures 3-8.
Some of these results are compared with those results
obtained in earlier work.4911-13

Conclusion 0 BEM Ku 0 0095, 0 03204 0 05963

The application of direct boundary integration tech- B -0 0170 -0 0291 -

niques to Kirchhoff plate bending problems has been

Figure 7 Mid-chord values (Kw, f3) for uniformly loaded canti-
performed for several examples. Some derivations and levered triangular plate, 01 = 45’

Figure 3 Simply-supported square plate with uniformly distributed Figure 8 Mid-chord values (K,, 0) for uniformly loaded canti-
load levered triangular plate, 01 = 60”

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February 21

BEM for plate bending problems: Q. Du, Z. Yao and G. Song

details for the boundary interpolations are given. The 3 Du, Q. H. and Yao. Z. H. ‘Some basic problems and enaineer-
three equations scheme of Hermitian interpolation used ing applications of BIE-BEM in elasticity, Acta Mechan;‘ca
Solida Sinica, 1982, pp. l-22 (in Chinese with English abstract)
in this paper is of higher conforming nature. The results 4 Jaswon, M. A. and Haiti, M. J. Eng. Math. 1968, 2, 83
definitely show that the boundary element method is a 5 Bezine, G. and Gamby, D. ‘Recent advances in~boundary
competitive workable method as compared with the well element methods’ (Ed. C. A. Brebbia), Pentech Press, London,
developed finite element method for the same problems. As 1978, pp. 327-342
6 Tottenham, H. ‘The boundary element method for plates and
the data preparations are more involved, from the pre-
shells’, in ‘Developments in boundary element method’
liminary program (BEM-PB) it was shown that for each (Banerjee, P. K. and Butterfield, R., Eds), Applied Science,
trial run the CPU time (on a M-l 50 F computer) was London, 1979, Vol. 1, pp. 173-205
approximately 80 s; hence the practical applicability of Bezine, G. Appl. Math. Modelling 1981, 5, 66
this method to many thin plate flexure problems was Kupradze, V. D. ‘Potential methods in theory of elasticity’
(in Russian), 1963 (English translation, Jerusalem, 1965)
demonstrated. Bergman, S. and Schiffer, M. ‘Kernel functions and elliptic
differential equations in mathematical physics’, Academic
Press, London and New York, 1953
References 10 Mensfield, E. H. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 1962,15, 167
11 Timoshenko, S. and Woinowsky-Krieger, S. ‘Theory of plates
Du, Q. H. and Yao, Z. H. ‘Applications of the boundary ele- and shells’, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1959
ment method to two and three dimensional stress analysis and 12 Ordway, D. E. and Riparbelli, C.J. Aeronaut. Sci. 1956, 23,
plate bending problems’, in ‘Elasticity in boundary element 252
methods in engineering’ (ed. C. A. Brebbia), Springer-Verlag, 13 Vainberg, D. V. and Vainberg, E. D. ‘Plates, discs and high
Berlin, 1982, pp. 269-281 depth beams’ (in Russian), Kiev, 1959
Brebbia, C. A. and Walker, S. ‘Boundary element techniques 14 Brebbia, C. A. ‘The boundary element method for engineers’,
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22 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, February