Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E.

Haisler

Bending and Extension of Thin Plates

1. Introduction

A theory for the bending and extension of slender beams was developed in Chapter 4 with
particular application to non-homogeneous and semimonocoque type beams typical to aerospace
construction. While a typical beam is clearly a three-dimensional structure, it is idealized by
assuming that the axial and transverse deformations are functions of only one variable, x, which
is the neutral axis along the length of the beam (as shown in Fig. 4.9). Consequently, slender
beams are considered to be one-dimensional problems. This chapter considers the extension of
Euler-Bernoulli beam theory to Kirchhoff plate theory. Both the beam and plate theories are
referred to as classical or strength of materials theories in that the following assumptions are
made: a straight line perpendicular to the neutral axis of the beam or plate is inextensible,
remains straight and only rotates about the undeformed axis. In classical plate theory, the same
general assumptions of beam theory are extended to thin planar bodies (see Fig. 1) wherein the
geometry is now slender in only one direction. This will result in a two-dimensional problem
wherein deformations are now functions of the two in-plane coordinates (x and y). In beam
theory, bending and extension is considered in only one direction; in plate theory, bending and
extension is considered in two directions (x and y).

While beam theory may be quite adequate in many situations (as in the examples
illustrated in Chapter 4 of Allen and Haisler), many structural configurations and stress analysis
requirements require a two dimensional analysis. Referring to structures such as shown in Figs.
4.22a or 4.29a of Allen and Haisler, the web and skin of the beam are in reality two-dimensional
flat or curved plates. In beam theory, the shear stress (shear flow) in the webs and skin of the
multicell beam are assumed to be constant between longitudinal stringers and for a given length
of beam span. In Chapter 4, it was assumed that the skin and web carried only shear and that the
stringers carried all bending loads (as axial stresses). In many cases, the webs will actually carry
some bending loads. Other plate-like structural components, such as floor panels, equipment
support panels, etc. will experience both bending and in-plane stresses that may not be
adequately analyzed by the beam theory of Chapter 4 (A&H).

In the present chapter, the development of plate and membrane theory will be restricted
to small deformations and strains. It is possible for thin plates subjected to large transverse loads
to experience large transverse deformations and large strains. In those cases where the thickness
is very small and/or the bending stiffness is very small (referred to as a membrane), the bending
stresses will be small in comparison to the in-plane stresses and the transverse deformations and
strains will quite often be large. The development of plate theory which accounts for large strains
requires the inclusion of nonlinear strain-displacement terms such as that shown in Eq. 2-41 and
results in a nonlinear set of partial differential equations which are beyond the scope of this text.
The treatment of large deformation plate theory is contained in Rivello, "Theory and Analysis of
Flight Structures" and many journal publications.

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

2. Geometry and Deformation

Thin plates are characterized by a structure that is bounded by upper and lower surface planes
that are separated by a distance h as shown in Fig. 1. The x-y coordinate axes are located on the
neutral plane of the plate (the "in-plane" directions) and the z-axis is normal to the x-y plane. In
the present development of classical plate theory, it will be assumed that h is a constant and that
material properties are homogeneous through the thickness. Consequently, the location of the x-y
axes will lie at the mid-surface plane (z=0) with the upper and lower surfaces corresponding to
z=h/2 and z=-h/2, respectively. The treatment of non-homogeneous plates utilizing modulus
weighted section properties is discussed in Rivello.

z
y
h pz
h/2 x

h/2
z
y
x mid-plane

Fig. 1. Plate Geometry

In most plate applications, the external loading includes distributed load normal to the plate (z
direction), concentrated loads normal to the plate, or in-plane tensile, bending or shear loads
applied to the edge of the plate. Such loading will produce deformations of the plate in the x,y,z
coordinate directions which in general can be characterized by displacements u(x,y,z), v(x,y,z)
and w(x,y,z) in the x, y and z directions, respectively.

As in beam theory, classical plate theory makes two major assumptions: 1) a line normal
to the mid-surface of the plate is inextensible (does not stretch), and 2) a straight line originally
normal to the undeformed mid-surface remains straight and rotates so as to remain straight and
normal to the deformed mid-surface plane. These assumptions imply that there is no transverse
normal strain (assumption 1) or shear strain (assumption 2), i.e.,

 zz  0,  xz  0,  yz  0

Given that the only non-zero strains lie in the x-y plane, we have what was referred to as plane
strain in Chapter 2 of A&H. It should be noted that since  xz  0 and  yz  0 , this implies that
 xz  0 and  yz  0 (or that the transverse shear modulus is infinity). Since the transverse stress
 zz can be no larger than the normal pressure pz and in general will be much smaller than the

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

in-plane stresses  xx and  yy , one can assume that  zz  0 . This implies that the only non-zero
stress components are in the x-y plane and we have a plane stress condition. The stress-strain
relations that will be utilized later will make the plane stress assumption.

Consistent with the assumptions made in Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, the plate
deformations will be restricted such that the normal displacement w is a function of x and y, and
only an assumed linear function of z (analogous to the assumption of "plane sections remain
plane" in beam theory). Likewise, the in-plane displacements u and v are assumed to be
functions of x and y only. As a result of these assumptions, the deformations can be described
entirely in terms of the deformation of the mid-surface plane; hence, the plate is reduced to the
study of a two-dimensional problem consisting of the plate mid-surface. Figure 2 shows the u
and v displacement assumptions in the x-z and y-z planes respectively.


w
u y

x
z
w
x

w
x
-zp
lan
e v 
x

y
z
w
y

y
-zpla
ne
Fig. 2. Mid-plane Displacements

From Figure 2, the following displacement patterns may be assumed:

u ( x, y, z )  u ( x, y, 0)  z y ( x, y )
v ( x, y, z )  v ( x, y, 0)  z x ( x, y )
w( x, y, z )  w( x, y, 0)

w w
where  x  and  y  are rotations of a normal the mid-plane about the x and negative y-
y x
axes, respectively.

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

3. Stress Resultants

In beam theory, the stress distribution that acts over a cross section may be integrated over the
cross section to define equivalent forces and moments acting at the neutral axis. For two-
dimensional plate analysis, it is more convenient to define stress resultants per unit length by
integrating only through the thickness. Thus, stress resultants are defined to be forces and
moments per unit length. The general stress components acting on an infinitesimal element are
shown in Fig. 3.
zz
zy
zx xz
xx xy
yx xx
h xy
z
y xz 
yy yz
x
note: stressesnotshownall faces

Fig. 3. Free Body of Stress Components

The differential equations of equilibrium for an infinitesimal element in terms of stresses

were previously derived in Chapter 2 of A&H (see Equations 2.15).

 xx  yx  zx
  X 0
x y z
 xy  yy  zy
  Y  0
x y z
 xz  yz  zz
  Z 0
x y z

where X, Y and Z are body forces per unit volume.

In order to make the analysis easier, we define 8 stress resultants (forces and moments per unit
length) by integrating through the thickness of the plate:

N x    xx dz , N y    yy dz , N xy  N yx    xy dz
t t t

M x    z  xx dz , M y    z  yy dz , M xy  M yx    z  xy dz
t t t

Qx     xz dz, Qy     yz dz
t t

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

These force and moment resultants are shown in Fig. 4.

Q Ny Myx
y
Nyx My
Q
x Mx
N Nx
y Mx
y
x Mxy
N x
Nxy Q
y Q
x M
z x
y Nyx My
x N y My
x
Fig. 4a. Force Stress Resultants Fig. 4b. Moment Stress Resultants

where N x and N y are in plane membrane forces per unit length (due to stretching of the plate
mid surface), M x and M y are bending moments per unit length about the y and x axes,
respectively, Qx and Qy are transverse shear forces per unit length, N xy is an in-plane shear
force per unit length (same as shear flow in a shear panel), and M xy and M yx are twisting
moments per unit length (similar to torsion in a beam).

Note that you have to be careful about the sign convention for the forces and moments; some
follow "usual" directions and notation, but some don't. For instance, the bending moment
notation is opposite to what you normally think of ( M x is a bending moment about the y-axis!)
and the shear forces Qx and Qy are opposite to the shear stresses. This notation and sign
convention for force and moment resultants has been used for a long time in plate theory and is
still used.

4. Equilibrium Equations in terms of Stress Resultants

Equilibrium of the plate mid-surface in terms of stress resultants is derived in exactly the same
manner as was done for stresses in Chapter 2 of A&H, i.e., summation of forces and moments in
the x, y and z directions. Figures 4a and 4b show separately the force and moment stress
resultants. It is assumed that the plate mid-surface is subjected to applied distributed loads px ,
p y and pz (force per unit area). In reality, these loads are applied to the upper or lower surface
but in terms of the free body diagram of the plate mid-surface and assumptions made here, they
can be considered to act at the mid-surface. To illustrate, consider equilibrium in the x direction
for a plate differential region x by y :

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

 N yx
N yx  y
x
pz py
Nx px
N x
Nx  x
y x
z
y N yx F o r c larity, o nly fo rce
x re sultants in x d ire ctio n
x are s ho wn.

We note that N x and N yx can be written as Taylor series in x and y, respectively. Then,
N N yx
0   Fx  ( N x  x x)y  N x y  ( N yx  y )x  N yx y  p x xy
x y
Divide by xy and we obtain:
N x N yx
  px  0
x y
Similarly, we can do force equilibrium in y and z directions, and moment equilibrium about the x
and y-axes. Hence, we have 5 equilibrium equations in terms of force and moment stress
resultants:
N x N yx
  px  0
x y
N xy N y
  py  0
x y
Qx Q y
  pz  0
x y
M x M yx
  Qx  0
x y
M xy M y
  Qy  0
x y

5. Strain-Displacement Relations

As in beam theory, we will assume that all displacements and strains are small (infinitesimal).
Similar to the assumptions made in Euler-Bernoulli beam theory (refer to Chapter 4.3 in A&H,
in particular equations 4.3.1 and 4.3.3), we assume displacement patterns of the mid-surface as
discussed in Section 2 above. Substituting these displacement assumptions (equations )
into the infinitesimal strain-displacement equations developed in Chapter 2 (Equations 2.42)
results in

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

u u ( x, y , 0)  2 w( x, y, 0)
 xx   z
x x x 2
v v ( x, y, 0)  2 w( x, y, 0)
 yy   z
y y y 2
u v u ( x, y, 0) v( x, y, 0)  2 w( x, y, 0)
 xy      2z
y x y x xy

In the above expressions, all displacements are at the mid-surface and are functions of x and y
only. To simply the notation, the functional notation of (x,y,0) will be dropped and the above
expressions will be written as

u u 2w
 xx   z 2
x x x
v v  2w
 yy   z 2
y y y
u v u v 2w
 xy      2z
y x y x xy

6. Stress-Strain Relations

As noted in Section 2, classical plate theory leads to a simultaneous assumption of plane strain
and plane stress conditions. While this requires that the transverse (z direction) Young's
modulus and shear modulus be infinity and the transverse Poisson's ratio be zero, this
requirement is consistent with the assumption that normals are inextensible and remain normal
during deformation (i.e., the material appears to have an infinite modulus in the transverse
direction). Following the notion that the dominant stresses lie in the x-y plane, classical plate
theory utilizes the plane stress assumption for an isotropic material. From Chapter 3 of A&H,
Equations 3.99 give

E E
 xx  ( xx   yy )  T
1  2 1 
E E
 yy  ( yy   xx )  T
1  2 1 
E
 xy  G xy   xy
2(1   )

where E,  and  are in-plane values of the isotropic material properties defined in Chapter 3 of
A&H (Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and coefficient of thermal expansion, respectively, and
T is the temperature change above a reference zero stress state. As noted before, we will
assume that the material properties E,  and  are homogeneous through the thickness;
however the temperature change T may vary through the thickness.

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

7. Stress-Displacement Relations

Substituting the strain-displacement relations in Section 5 into the stress-strain relations in

Section 6 gives the following stress-displacement relations:

E  u v 2w 2w  E
 xx  2  x
  z( 2  2 )  T
1   y x y  1  
E  v u 2w 2w  E
 yy      z (   )  T
2 y
1   x y 2
x  1 
2

E  u v 2w 
 xy  G xy     2 z 
2(1   )  y x xy 

In Chapter 4 of A&H, the stresses for beam theory were also expressed in terms of
equivalent forces, moments and thermal loads acting at the neutral surface (see Equation 4.55).
Substituting equations into the definitions for stress resultants given in Section 3 and integrating
through the thickness (remember that u, v and 2 do not depend upon z), yields the following
equations:
 u v  T
N x  K    N
 x y 
 v u  T
N y  K    N
 y x 
1  v u 
N xy  N yx  K   
2(1  )  x y 
 2w 2w 
M x  D  2  2   M T
 x y 

 2w 2w 
M y  D  2  2   M T
 y x 

2w
M xy   M yx  (1  ) D
xy

Qx and Qy are obtained by using the last two equilibrium equations . In the above, the
following "stiffness" properties (per unit length) have been defined

Eh
K
(1   2 )
Eh3
D
12(1  2 )

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

and the following thermal force and moment resultants have been defined:

N T   ( ET ) /(1  )dz

t

M   z ( ET ) /(1   )dz

T
t

The terms K and D in plate theory are similar to the axial and bending stiffness terms EA and EI
defined in beam theory.

Similar to beam theory (see Equation 4.61 in A&H), we can utilize the definitions for
stress resultants in terms of displacements and rewrite the equations relating stresses to
displacements to obtain stress equations in terms of stress resultants. For example, we note that
E  u v 
the term    T
 is equivalent to ( N x  N ) / h , and the term
(1  )  x
2 y 
E   2w 2w  
2 
  z  2   2 
  is equivalent to  z ( M x  M T ) / I where I  h3 /12 . Thus, the first
(1  )   x y  
stress equation (see ) can be written in terms of stress resultants as

N x  N T ( M x  M T ) z ET
 xx   
h I (1  )

and in a similar fashion we obtain

Ny  NT (M y  M T ) z ET
 yy   
h I (1  )
N xy M xy z
 xy  
h I

h/2
h / 2 z
2
where I = moment of inertia (about the x or y axis) for a unit width of plate = dz  h3 /12
.

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

8. Formulation and Solution of the Plate Equations

We can now develop the differential equations of equilibrium in terms of the displacements u, v
and w and the applied loads. Consider the in-plane force equilibrium equations in the x and y
directions given in Section 4. Substituting the stress resultant-displacement relations derived in
Section 7 into these two force equilibrium equations results in

  2u  2v  K   2v  2u  N T
K  2        px
 x xy  2(1  )  xy y 2  x

  2v  2u  K   2u  2 v  N T
K  2         py
 y xy  2(1  )  xy x 2  y


Substituting the two moment equilibrium equations into the transverse force equilibrium
equation [see ] gives

2M x  2 M yx 2M y  2 M xy
    pz
x 2 xy y 2 xy

Noting that M xy   M yx , then the above equation may be written as

2M x  2 M yx  2M y
2   pz
x 2 xy y 2

The last equation can be written in terms of the transverse displacement w by substituting for the
moment resultants in terms of w from Section 7 [see ]. Using the notation (the Laplacian
operator)
 2 ()  2 ()
 2 ()  2  2
x y
we obtain the following equation

 2  2w   2w   2w  

   D 2   2  D 2  2  D
 xy  
  y   x 
2 2
 ( D w)  (1  )   2    p  2 M T
 z
x 2
y 2 xy
 
 
 
If we assume constant material properties and thickness for the plate, then D is a constant and the
terms in the bracket are zero; and the above equation reduces to

D 4 w  p z   2 M T
4 4w 4w 4w
where  w  2 
x 4 x 2y 2 y 4

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

Solution of the three partial differential equations given by and constitutes the solution of the
plate bending problems. It should be noted that all five equilibrium equations (two in-plane and
one transverse force equilibrium equations and the moment equilibrium equation) have been
utilized to obtain the three partial differential equations above. The partial differential equations
defining the in-plane displacements u and v are coupled. Consistent with small strain theory, the
partial differential equation for the transverse displacement w is uncoupled from u and v.

9. Boundary Conditions

The solution of the differential equations defining u, v and w require careful attention to
boundary equations. For the present discussion, we only consider rectangular plates whose
edges are parallel to the x and y coordinates axes. In the x and y directions, the u and v
displacements each must be specified along at least one of the plate boundaries (similar to a
simply supported beam). The boundary conditions for the transverse displacement w are
somewhat more complicated but are analogous to those in beam theory. Letting n and s be
directions normal and parallel, respectively, to a boundary, then we can write the following
boundary conditions:

w
Clamped edge: w  0 and 0
n

2w MT
Simply supported edge: w  0 and 
n 2 D

2w 2w MT
 2 
n 2 s D
Free edge:
 3w  3 w  M T
D  3  (2  ) 
 n ns 2  n


The clamped boundary condition is equivalent to saying that the displacement and slope
are zero. For the case of no thermal edge loads ( M T  0 ), the simply supported boundary
condition requires that the displacement and curvature (i.e., the moment normal to the edge) be
zero. The free edge boundary conditions require that the moment and shear be zero on the free
edge (for the case of M T  0 ). When the thermal moment is not zero, the above equations
require that curvatures at the plate edge satisfy the above relations (i.e., the internal moment at
the edge must equal the thermal moment M T (or its gradient for the shear boundary condition
on a free edge).

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

10. Some Simple Plate Solutions

The exact solution of the fourth-order, partial differential defining the transverse deflection w is
generally quite difficult. For certain special cases, approximate analytical solutions can be
obtained by assuming a displacement w(x,y) and obtaining a particular and complimentary
solution in the traditional manner of solving differential equations. Other approximate solutions
may be obtained by using finite difference or finite element methods. In practice, numerical
finite difference methods (which replace derivatives by algebraic approximations) tend to
cumbersome and difficult to apply for general plate geometries. The finite element method,
which uses a combination of assumed displacement solutions and energy principles to solve the
differential equations, is better suited for arbitrary plate geometries. The finite element solution
of plate problems will be considered in a later section.

Consider the analytical solution of a thin, rectangular plate that has uniform material
properties, is loaded with a uniform normal pressure po , and is simply supported along all
edges. Assume the plate has dimensions a and b in the x and y directions, respectively, and that
the coordinate system is located at one corner of the plate as shown below.

b po

x
a

Since the thermal loading is assumed to be zero, we are faced with solving the following fourth-
order differential equation

D 4 w  pz

As with the usual solution of differential equations, we assume a solution that satisfies the
boundary equations. Trigonometric series can generally be used to satisfy many type of
boundary conditions. For the simply supported plate of dimensions a and b we can utilize the
Navier series:

w( x, y )   wmn sin(m x / a) sin(n y / b)

m n

where the constants wmn . have to be determined and will depend on the loading. It should be
noted that the above solution satisfies the simply supported boundary conditions, i.e., w=0 at x=0
and x=a and y=0 and y=b,  2 w / x 2  0 at x=0 and x=a, and  2 w / y 2  0 at y=0 and y=b. Since
the solution for w(x,y) has been assumed in the form of a double trigonometric series, it is

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Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

customary and convenient to also expand the loading in a similar double Fourier series as
follows:

p z ( x, y )   pmn sin(m x / a )sin(n y / b)

m n

where the Fourier coefficients pmn may be determined in the usual manner of Fourier series
analysis. That is, we first multiply both sides of the above equation by sin(r x / a) and
sin( s x / a ) where r,s are positive integers (as are m and n), and then integrate both sides of the
equation from x=0 to x=a and y=0 to y=b. This gives the following

a b
0 0 pz ( x, y)sin(r x / a) sin( s x / b)dxdy
a b
  pmn  sin( m x / a) sin( r x / a) dx  sin( n y / b) sin(s x / b )dy
0 0
m n

Using the orthogonality properties of trigonometric functions (see Equation d in Example 6.9 of
A&H), the integral with respect to x on the right side is equal to a/2 only when m=r (and zero
when mn. Similarly, the integral with respect to y is equal to b/2 only when n=s. Thus the
right side of the equation reduces to (ab/4) prs . Thus the Fourier coefficients of the loading is
given by
a b
prs  (4 / ab)   p z ( x, y ) sin( r x / a)sin( s x / b)dxdy
0 0

For the case when p z ( x, y ) = constant = po , the above reduces to

a b
prs  (4 / ab) po  sin(r x / a)dx  sin( s x / b)dy
0 0
4 po
  1  cos(r )   1  cos( s ) 
 2 rs
 16 po /( 2 rs) for r , s  1,3,5,...

0 for r , s  2, 4, 6,...

Thus the Fourier approximation of the uniform load may be written as

16 po
p z ( x, y )    2
sin(m x / a)sin(n y / b)
m 1,3,... n 1,3,...  mn

Substituting the assumed solution for w(x,y) into the left side of the equilibrium equation gives

D 4 w  D wmn [(m / a) 2  ( n / b) 2 ]2 sin(m x / a) sin(n y / b)

m n

13
Bending and Extension of Thin Plates, W.E. Haisler

Using the last two equations, the equilibrium equation D 4 w  pz becomes

D  wmn [(m / a ) 2  (n / b) 2 ]2 sin(m x / a) sin(n y / b)

m n
16 po
   2
sin( m x / a) sin(n y / b)
m1,3,... n 1,3,...  mn

Equating like coefficients of the sine functions allows for the solution of wmn (i.e., equating left
and right sides for each term the series):

16 po
wmn 
( mnD)[(m / a) 2  ( n / b)2 ]2
2

and the solution for w(x,y) becomes:

16 po
w( x, y )   sin( m x / a) sin( n y / b)
m n ( mnD )[( m / a) 2  (n / b) 2 ]2
2

In general, series solutions such as the above converge slowly primarily because the Fourier
series representation of the distributed load requires a large number of terms in order to
adequately represent a uniform load over the plate.

For the simply supported plate considered here, the solution for the in-plane
displacements is zero because there are no in-plane (membrane) loads applied. Also, since we
have assumed small displacements there is no coupling between transverse and in-plane
displacements. Hence,
u ( x, y )  v ( x, y )  0

The solution for w(x,y) may be substituted into the stress-displacement equations of Section 7
[equations ] to obtain the stress components  xx ,  yy , and  xy .

As was noted above, the closed-form analytic solution of the 4th order differential equation for
the plate bending problem is limited and almost impossible except for special situations like
rectangular or circular plates (and even then, finding a suitable displacement function may be
difficult. In other words, it is a nice and elegant approach but it has limited usefulness except for
special cases. For more general geometries (odd-shapes, plates with holes, curved plates, etc.)
and loading, the finite element method is much more practical and useful.

References
1. "Theory of Plates and Shells," S.P. Timoshenko and S.Woinowsky-Krieger, McGraw-Hill.
2. "Theory and Analysis of Flight Structures," R.M. Rivello, McGraw-Hill.

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