c Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2021.

ISSN 0021-8944, Journal of Applied Mechanics and Technical Physics, 2021, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. –. 
c S.D. Algazin, I.A. Selivanov.
Russian Text 

NATURAL VIBRATIONS OF A RECTANGULAR PLATE

WITH MIXED BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

∗ ∗
S. D. Algazina, and I. A. Selivanovb, UDC 539.3:534.1

Abstract: Natural vibrations of a rectangular plate with two clamped and two freely supported
edges are under consideration. The Bubnov — Galerkin method is used to calculate the first eigen-
values, and the first eigenvalue in the case of a single trial function is calculated with an error smaller
than 1%. The results are compared with known data, and eigenforms are given.
Keywords: biharmonic equation, free vibrations of a plate, Bubnov — Galerkin method, compu-
tational experiment.
DOI: 10.1134/S0021894421020073

INTRODUCTION

This paper touches upon a solution to the problem of a vibrating rectangular plate. Similar problems have
been solved by various methods [1]. A feature of these problems is the need for accurately calculating the eigenvalues
of the problem. It is not always possible to obtain analytical forms for any combination of boundary conditions, so
it is necessary to construct solutions that allow one to determine an exact eigenvalue at low computational costs.
This problem is considered in more detail in [1], in which it is also proposed to search for a solution in the form of a
combination of trigonometric and analytical functions, while it is necessary to determine eight different coefficients.
The solution of the problems of vibrations of a rectangular plate is described in [2], in which the solution is
constructed on the basis of the superposition method and the Levy solution [3]. The tasks under consideration are
divided into subtasks, which are solved separately. At the same time, the solution to the problem is constructed in
such a way that the eigenvalue should be calculated by the direct search method.
If the Bubnov — Galerkin procedure [4] is applied, then the problem can be formulated in matrix form,
resulting in a series of eigenvalues on a sparse grid. This advantage of the Bubnov — Galerkin method may be used
to construct exact solutions to the problem of natural vibrations of a rectangular plate.

1. FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM OF NATURAL VIBRATIONS

OF A RECTANGULAR PLATE

Let the problem of natural vibrations of a rectangular plate with two tightly clamped and two freely supported
edges be considered. The schematic of the plate is given in Fig. 1.

a
Ishlinsky Institute for Problems in Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119526 Russia.
b
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia; ∗ algazinsd@mail.ru, ∗ shertors@gmail.com. Trans-
lated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 70–76, March–April, 2021. Original
article submitted April 21, 2020; revision submitted June 3, 2020; accepted for publication June 29, 2020.
∗
Corresponding author.
0021-8944/21/6202-01 
c 2021 by Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. 1
 _a
2

0 b y

a
2
x

Fig. 1. Schematic of the plate.

The equation of natural vibrations of a rectangular plate and the corresponding boundary conditions are
written as follows [2–6]:
∂ 2 w(x, y, t)
D∇4 w(x, y, t) + ρh = 0; (1)
∂2t
 ∂w(x, y, t) 

w(x, y, t) = 0,  = 0; (2)
|x|=a/2 ∂x |x|=a/2

 ∂ 2 w(x, y, t) 

w(x, y, t) = 0,  = 0. (3)
y=0,b ∂2y y=0,b

Here w(x, y, t) is the bending of the plate; ∇4 = ∇2 ∇2 ; ∇2 = ∂ 2 /∂ 2 x + ∂ 2 /∂ 2 y denotes the biharmonic differential
operator written in a rectangular coordinate system; D = Eh3 /[12(1 − ν 2 )] refers to the flexural stiffness of the
plate, N · m; ρ is the density of the plate material, kg/m3 ; h is the plate thickness, m; E is Young’s modulus, Pa; ν
is Poisson’s ratio.
The solution of the problem can be written as [5]
w(x, y, t) = w(x, y) eiωt . (4)
Thus, the problem (1) with account for the assumption (4) takes the form
∇4 w(x, y) = λw(x, y),
√
where λ = ρhω 2 /D has dimensionality m−4 (b2 λ is a dimensionless quantity).

2. CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLUTION

For the plates whose two opposite edges are freely supported, the solution is sought in the form of the series
(see, e.g., [4])
my
mx 
 nπy
w(x, y) = Um (x) sin ,
m=1 n=1
b
(5)
m = 1, 3, 5, . . . , mx , n = 1, 2, 3, . . . , my ,
2
which satisfies the boundary conditions (3).
We consider only the vibrations symmetric relative to the y axis (obtaining only even eigenforms), so functions
Um (x) are written as
4 mπx mπx mπx
Um (x) = + Am cosh + Bm sinh
π 5 m5 b b b
(Am and Bm denote the constants determined from the boundary conditions (2)).
We introduce a denotation Vn (y) = sin (nπy/b). Then Eq. (5) takes the form
my
mx 

w(x, y) = Um (x)Vn (y).
m=1 n=1

3. BUBNOV — GALERKIN METHOD

According to the Bubnov — Galerkin method, the solution is sought in the form [7]
my
mx 

w(x, y) = am Um (x)bn Vn (y),
m=1 n=1

where am and bn are the arbitrarily selected constants determined from the condition of orthogonality of the basis
functions to the residual
b a/2  my 
mx  
∇4 (am Um (x)bn Vn (y)) − λ(am Um (x)bn Vn (y)) Up (x)Vq (y) dx dy = 0. (6)
0 −a/2 m=1 n=1

Let the condition (6) be transformed. Note that

∇4 (Um (x)Vn (y))Up (x)Vq (y) = ∇2 (Um (x)Vn (y))∇2 (Up (x)Vq (y)).
We introduce matrix A with dimension p × q, m × n, so the following is obtained for the element pqmn of
this matrix:
a/2 b a/2 b
 
Apqmn = Um Up dx Vn Vq dy + Um Up dx Vn Vq dy +
−a/2 0 −a/2 0

a/2 b a/2 b
+ Um Up dx Vn Vq dy + 
Um Up dx Vn Vq dy.
−a/2 0 −a/2 0

We introduce matrix B whose dimension is the same as that of matrix A, and the following is obtained for
element pqmn:
a/2 b
Bpqmn = Um Up dx Vn Vq dy.
−a/2 0

We calculate integrals considering that

∂2 nπy  nπ 2 nπy
Vn = 2
sin = − sin , Vq = δnq Vn ,
∂ y b b b
 mπ 2 mπx  mπ 2 mπx  mπ 3 mπx

Um (x) = Am cosh +2 Bm cosh + Bm x sinh
b b b b b b

3
 Table 1. Approximate and exact values of the eigenvalues for different plates
√
b2 λ
ϕ
Approximate value Exact value [3] Δ, %
1.0 29.087 171 22 28.9509 0.47
1.5 17.491 057 39 17.3730 0.68
0.4 146.006 353 40 145.4839 0.36
2/3 56.569 370 81 56.3481 0.39

(δnq is the Kronecker symbol). Then

b b  nπ 2 b 1 nπ  
Vn Vq dy = Vn Vq dy = − Vn2 dy = δnq cos(nπ) sin(nπ) − nπ ,
b 2 b
0 0 0

b
b  
Vn Vq dy = −δnq cos (nπ) sin (nπ) − nπ , (7)
2nπ
0

b
1  nπ 3  
Vn Vq dy = −δnq cos (nπ) sin (nπ) − nπ .
2 b
0

Thus, the integrals in Eq. (7) are nonzero only for n = q.

Integrals with respect to variable x can be calculated either analytically or numerically. Here, it is advisable
to write down an analytical formula in the case m = p and to calculate integrals using the following quadrature
formulas in the case m = p:
a/2 mx

f (x) dx = Ck f (xk ),
−a/2 k=1

a    a 2k − 1 
m
x −1
2 a 2k − 1
Ck = 1+ cos (lθ k ) , θk = π, xk = cos π .
mx 1 − l2 2 2mx 2 2mx
l=2(2)

Thus, the original problem (6) is written as

mx my mx my
   
am bn Apqmn = λ am bn Bpqmn , (8)
m,p=1 n,q=1 m,p=1 n,q=1

where summation with respect to m, p and n, q is carried out separately. In this case, matrix B is nondiagonal and
matrix A is symmetric.

4. CALCULATION OF EIGENVALUES

The problem reduces to determining the eigenvalues of the system of algebraic equations (8). These values
can be determined as follows:
B −1 A = λE. (9)
The eigenvalues of λ are obtained by calculating the eigenvalues of matrix B −1 A. These calculations can
be carried out using the ELMHES, ELTRAN, and HQR2 subprograms of the EISPACK library [8].
Matrix B in the left part of Eq. (9) is ill-conditioned, which causes errors in reversing the matrix. The applica-
tion of the iterative refinement procedure [9] does not significantly affect the accuracy of calculating the eigenvalues.
4
Table 2. Eigenvalues for grids of different dimensions and different values of a, b, and ϕ

25 × 25 25 × 25 17 × 17 25 × 25
(a = b = 2, ϕ = 1) (a = 3, b = 2, ϕ = 1.5) (a = 4, b = 2, ϕ = 2) (a = 2.5, b = 2, ϕ = 1.25)
28.951 910 528 17.481 586 540 13.567 112 199 21.316 341 135
54.743 212 672 45.484 590 932 42.684 675 502 48.517 702 057
102.215 483 810 63.702 743 866 48.143 638 987 86.970 995 036
128.817 819 860 89.952 676 890 73.172 684 662 96.908 804 415
154.588 481 230 94.212 032 164 91.383 089 231 112.934 984 290
170.345 705 210 136.660 789 330 119.644 835 400 158.922 203 720
199.699 869 470 163.072 480 590 155.719 801 950 165.504 075 620
255.724 960 990 173.810 416 990 155.719 801 950 225.639 831 980
258.613 254 030 198.342 152 830 160.585 885 680 238.633 269 170
265.132 668 970 203.966 101 330 184.248 542 960 254.088 777 180
271.510 583 280 241.763 983 050 187.179 853 460 264.013 433 860
299.535 235 220 251.719 616 030 206.200 350 190 268.036 343 590
310.858 778 010 291.615 403 750 246.658 473 580 308.976 678 640
328.428 556 610 305.603 159 720 249.385 643 610 313.720 179 950
348.367 786 220 360.127 005 580 275.237 852 490 362.426 533 920
351.076 768 020 390.334 202 440 308.211 405 610 376.934 111 220
366.816 551 300 399.407 368 260 339.465 908 760 418.308 761 560
376.321 105 190 488.465 221 110 357.950 166 330 479.900 782 500
443.274 746 700 495.988 260 890 383.567 191 720 490.625 559 130
457.419 157 470 527.153 788 610 392.000 873 550 508.086 113 690
494.868 708 520 557.941 691 120 486.101 058 590 546.309 535 870
519.745 690 300 565.267 235 390 498.543 023 990 556.014 806 970
529.583 115 830 581.329 927 770 512.565 360 020 638.577 523 540
584.000 916 720 622.204 385 100 629.178 299 120 658.553 690 460
585.242 688 770 623.300 706 450 634.106 662 100 683.036 847 160
619.083 382 440 637.541 498 110 637.247 267 220 693.765 859 260
635.573 798 370 659.821 754 650 669.689 691 160 806.288 876 010
637.315 179 720 659.821 754 650 789.851 433 770 810.310 968 590
642.726 860 840 683.230 765 820 802.022 627 850 826.680 361 260
674.625 178 380 749.264 875 280 822.870 802 600 861.053 982 090
704.560 765 790 769.249 022 660 884.602 064 670 878.505 384 690
730.692 661 510 804.131 287 870 989.531 987 240 912.433 870 840
746.915 921 430 841.824 317 440 996.428 480 110 933.682 997 150
751.081 798 370 902.911 981 030 1008.398 843 700 979.813 236 160
761.540 340 360 930.864 356 440 1008.398 843 700 993.761 470 780
800.629 906 700 954.180 903 110 1011.459 591 400 1048.486 622 100
810.368 806 150 954.180 903 110 1090.947 007 500 1057.615 216 500
848.433 358 940 991.625 802 110 1196.742 895 900 1132.341 140 700
887.567 335 560 1021.354 548 500 1218.889 304 700 1145.912 558 200
896.862 526 520 1023.563 976 700 1244.187 753 000 1152.554 761 400

5
 (a)

w
0
_0.0002
_0.0004
_0.0006
y x
1.8 0.8
1.6 0.6
1.4 0.4
1.2 0.2
1.0 0
0.8 _0.2
0.6 _0.4
0.4 _0.6
0.2 _0.8
0 _1.0

(b)

w
0.0002
0
_0.0002
y x
1.8 0.8
1.6 0.6
1.4 0.4
1.2 0.2
1.0 0
0.8 _0.2
0.6 _0.4
0.4 _0.6
0.2 _0.8
0 _1.0

(c)

w
0.0002
0
_0.0002
y x
1.8 0.8
1.6 0.6
1.4 0.4
1.2 0.2
1.0 0
0.8 _0.2
0.6 _0.4
0.4 _0.6
0.2 _0.8
0 _1.0

Fig. 2. Eigenforms for a = b = 2 and different values of λ: (a) λ = 28.951 910 528,
(b) λ = 642.726 860 840, and (c) λ = 154.588 481 230.

6
5. DETERMINATION OF THE APPROXIMATE VALUE
OF THE FIRST EIGENVALUE

If we consider a solution in which mx = my = 1, i.e., m = n = p = q = 1, then Eq. (9) yields an equation

whose solution is an approximate value of the first eigenvalue of the problem.
Table 1 shows the approximate and exact [3] values of the eigenvalues for different values ϕ = a/b and
the error Δ of the approximate solution.
The numerical solution is easy to obtain, for example, using the Maple package.

6. SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION AND CALCULATION RESULTS

The software implementation of the problem solution is based on Fortran. The solution is determined for
different values of a and b. Table 2 shows the calculated eigenvalues for ϕ = a/b = 1.00; 1.50; 2.00; 1.25.
Figure 2 shows eigenforms for a square plate.

CONCLUSIONS

The paper considers the problem of natural vibrations of a plate with two clamped and two freely supported
edges, and the solution of this problem is constructed similarly to the Levy solution. The application of the
Bubnov — Galerkin method makes it possible to formulate an eigenvalue problem in matrix form and construct an
approximate analytical solution for the first eigenvalue for mx = my = 1. In this case, the calculation error does
not exceed 0.7%.
The work was carried out within the framework of the state task AAAA-A20-120011690132-4.

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