ELASTIC STRESS PARAMETERS IN SIMPLY

SUPPORTED SKEW PLATES IN FLEXURE

A. R. CUSENS University of Leeds

I. I. BESSER University of Leeds

This experimental study was undertaken with the aim of examining the flexural behaviour of a skew slab bridge deck with particular
regard to the obtuse corners and the boundaries of the structure. The investigation considered bending and twisting moments, and
reactive and shearing forces under concentrated point loads.
Tests were carried out on a simply supported asbestos-cement slab, with a 45" skew angle. Experimental results are compared with
finite element solutions.

1 INTRODUCTION Qx,Qy Shearing forces per unit length of section of a

1.1 General background
For plate structures with other than rectangular or
circular plan shapes, the classical methods of analysis
(l)? provide limited help to the structural designer in
predicting elastic behaviour under transverse loading. In
the case of a skew plate, solutions become less reliable as
the angle of skew increases, especially in the region of the
obtuse corners. In consequence some load tests have
been carried out on model skew slabs, eg, (2)(3), to
develop design data. Kennedy and Tamberg (4) have
reviewed available analytical and experimental data on
skew slabs with particular reference to bridge decks.
Previous experimental work on skew slabs in flexure
has concentrated upon deflections, bending stresses
(2)(3)(5),or reactive forces (6)(7).Little test evidence has
been published on the distribution of shear forces in
these structures and this underlines the difficulty of
measuring the shear strains associated with flexure.
In this paper, an approximate experimental method
for finding the shear forces on a slab model, based on the
gradients of bending and twisting moments, is employed.
Experimental investigations were carried out on an
asbestos-cement model with 45" skew to determine the
distribution of bending and twisting moments, reactive
forces, and shear forces. Test results are given.
1.2 Notation
Width of plate measured along supported edge
Span measured along free edge
Twisting moment at the edge of a plate,
considered as a concentrated force
Bending moments per unit length of section of a
plate normal to x and y axes, respectively
Twisting moment per unit length
Shearing force per unit length of section of a
plate normal to n direction
The MS of this paper was received at the Institution on 15th June 1979 and
accepted f o r publication on 9th January 1980.
t References are given in the Appendix.
JOURNAL OF STRAIN ANALYSIS VOL 15 NO 2 1980
plate normal to x and y axes, respectively
x, Y Rectangular coordinates
x', y' Skew coordinates
1.3 Edge conditions in an elastic plate
Although the boundary conditions in an elastic plate are
well-established they frequently appear to create
misunderstanding amongst engineers. Jaeger (8) gives a
clear explanation in relation to a free edge at x = 0. At
this edge there are three boundary conditions
M,=O; M,,=O; Q x = O (1)
These three boundary conditions are too many for the
fourth order differential equation derived from thin plate
small deflection theory. The classical reduction to two
boundary conditions gives
usually known as the Kirchhoff boundary conditions.
These lead to the apparent occurrence of a concentrated
vertical force (2M,y)o,oat a typical corner, x = 0, y = 0.
Coull (9) has suggested that no physical significance
should be attached to the concentrated corner forces
which arise from equation (2). Reissner's generalized
theory (which includes the effects of shear deformation)
leads to two simultaneous equations of sixth order (lo),
satisfying the boundary conditions in equation (1).
However, this theory is usually regarded by engineers as
being unnecessarily sophisticated for most practical
problems and, for example, is rarely, if ever, used in
bridge design.
2 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Tests were carried out on a slab, with a 45" skew angle,
cut from an asbestos-cement sheet (see Fig. 1). The
average thickness of the slab was 18.8 mm. The plan
dimensions were b = 566 mm wide, measured along the
support line, and I , = 800 mm, measured along the free
edges, giving a span of 566 mm between abutments, and
a ratio bll, = 0.77.
0 IMechE 1980 103

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 A. R. CUSENS AND I. I. BESSER

I
9.5 mm Table 1. Results of material tests
18.8 mm

400 _I - T Beam Direction

Dimensions
(mm)
E
(kN/mmZ) v
EAV
(kN/mm’) vAv

\ \
A
B
y’
.Y’
4 0 1~8 . 9 ~ 4 0 0 26.46
4 0 x 1 8 . 9 ~ 4 0 0 24.98
0.209
0.198
25,72 0.20

For the slab tests load was applied by means of a

simple lever mechanism, to provide a single point load
normal to the plate surface, through a 12.7 mm diameter
E
0 ball bearing. The test loadings were mainly applied at
mid-span and were within the elastic range. Strains were
measured by means of three-element rectangular
0
00 rosettes, having gauges of 5 mm length. A data-logger
-II
-s
was employed to record the data from strain gauges and

I
load cells; the output was recorded on paper tape and
processed by computer.

3 EXPERIMENTAL METHOD FOR MEASURING

THE SHEAR FORCES

The transverse shear forces were obtained at specific

X’ stations on the slab surface by measuring in-plane strains
at three points. In general, to determine the strain field at
’r any point of a slab, the use of three-legged rosette gauges
is required. After defining the strain field at a point,
knowledge of the slab stiffness properties enables the
9.5 mn conversion to bending and twisting moments.
The shear forces Q, and Q, in an elastic plate in ffexure
are functions of the bending and twisting moments M,,
M y and M,, (1):

(3)

(4)
In equations (3) and (4) the shear forces are expressed
as a function of the gradients of the bending and twisting
moments. Therefore, to use these equations, it is
necessary to know the variations of M,, M y and M , in
Fig. 1. Dimensions of model and coordinates adopted
the orthogonal directions x and y at a reference station.
By placing rosettes at the points A, B and C shown in
Because the primary area of interest in the tests was Fig. 2, the bending and twisting moments at these points
bridge slabs, two support conditions were employed.
The first consisted of a 12.7 mm diameter roller at one
abutment, and eight discrete point supports provided by
load cells at the other. Both support lines were restrained
against uplift of the slab. For the second support
condition the discrete supports were replaced by a
continuous knife edge. Additional tests were also
performed without vertical restraint against uplift, i.e.,
the plate was allowed to displace upwards at the
supports.
To determine the elastic properties of this material,
two beam specimens were cut from the same sheet as the
model. One of the beams was cut parallel to the shortest
side of the model (Beam A ) and the other perpendicular
to it (Beam B). Average results obtained from tests are
summarized in Table 1 ; analytical checks showed that
the material could be considered as virtually isotropic
and the elastic constants used were the mean values
shown in Table 1. Fig. 2. Position of strain gauges for shear force measurement

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 ELASTIC STRESS PARAMETERS IN SIMPLY SUPPORTED SKEW PLATES IN FLEXURE

Fig. 3. Bending moment M, along section A due to 492 N load at points, 1, 5, and 9

can be calculated approximately from the strain the shear forces at the point A may be expressed as first
measurements. The points B and C are located along the differences :
x and y axes, respectively, and the point A coincides with
MBx - - MCxy- MAxy
the intersection of both axes. For the purpose of QA,= Ax (5)
simplification, the bending and twisting moments read at AY
point A, are represented as MA,, MA,, and MAxy;the and
corresponding values at B are MB,, etc; and at C, M,,,
etc. MCy- - MBxy- MAxy
(6)
Introducing these expressions in equations (3) and (4) QAY= Ay Ax
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 A. R. CUSENS AND I. I. BESSER
Support line
Assuming that the degree of accuracy of the strain
measurements is good, the accuracy of the method as a ---
o Expenmental
whole depends mainly on the values of the finite
increments of distance Ax and Ay. In areas of steep stress Knlle-edge rupporl
-Program PSALM
gradient, the distance between the rosettes is critical for o Experimental
P = 492 N
Support line
the analysis of shear forces using this method because
linear changes are assumed. Thus any reduction of the
distances x and y will normally lead to an improvement
of the results. By selecting small strain gauges, the
distance between strain gauges can be reduced, since the
effective distance between measurement positions is
determined by the size of the gauges.

4 RESULTS

4.1 General remarks

The finite element program PSALM (11) was used for
comparison of experimental and analytical results.
PSALM employs a Razzaque conforming triangular
element having nine degrees of freedom with a linear
variation of bending and twisting moments over each
element.
The effect of the self-weight of the model plate was not
considered in the analysis so that computed stresses are
attributable to the concentrated load only. The model
slab was relatively light so that it was necessary to
restrain the acute corners of the plate from uplift under
the effect of the concentrated load.
For the second support condition where the plate was
supported on two line supports, the case where upward
displacement was permitted was included for the Fig. 4. Bending moment M, along section K due to 492 N load at
purposes of comparison. In analysis the two support points 1, 5, and 9
conditions were idealized as:
Support h e
(i) eight discrete elastic point supports (using experi- Diurcte point supports
mentally determined elastic values) ; -__ Program PSALM
(ii) a large number of points (29) along the line 0 Exprimcntal

support possessing semi-infinite rigidity. Knifc-edge support mii +

-Program PSALM Section K
P = 492 N
0 Expenmenlal Suppor1 hne

4.2 Bending and twisting moments

The distribution of bending moments in a skew plate
presents a rather complicated pattern. This is illustrated
by Fig. 3, which shows distributions of longitudinal
150
bending moment M , along a longitudinal section 6 mm
from the free edge, for the plate supported on eight dis- 100
crete points and a knife edge. The three graphs shown 50
in Fig. 3 give an idea of the large moment reversals which 0
occur near the obtuse corner in a skew plate with
different positions of the load. The position of the point - 50
E
of contraflexure has a maximum distance of 0.161, from E
---
the obtuse corner. A second point of contraflexure can be f 50
E
identified because the moments near the acute-angled
corner also experience reversals. In Fig. 3 it can be seen 2 0
that when the load is positioned at point 9, the bending - 50
moment, M , , has a negative value up to a point at 0.51,
from the acute corner. 50
Figure 4 shows the distribution of longitudinal
0
bending moment, M , , along section K, 6 mm from the
support line. It demonstrates the changes of moment M , - 50
from large negative values at the obtuse corner when the - 100
load is applied at point 1, to positive values when the
load is at point 9.
106

Fig. 5. Transverse bending moment My along section K due to

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492 N load at points 1, 5, and 9
 ELASTIC STRESS PARAMETERS IN SIMPLY SUPPORTED SKEW PLATES IN FLEXURE

The distribution of transverse moment, M y , along
transverse section K, 6 mm from the support line, is
shown in Fig. 5 . The reversal of sign of M y can be seen as
the load is transferred from point 1 to point 9 on the
model. Maximum values of the twisting moment M , ,
were found at points near to the free edges and towards
the obtuse corner of the plate (Figs 6 and 7). Although
the experimental values of twisting moment tend to
decrease at a short distance from the free edge and the
support line, in most of the cases these values are still
quite high, especially for the case in which the load was
placed at point 1. The stress gradient at the obtuse
corner and near the free edge is shown to be very steep.
Because of the Kirchhoff boundary conditions
(equation (2)) used to satisfy the plate equation, the
analytical values do not satisfy the true boundary
condition of M1, = 0 at free edges.
The distributions of bending moments M , and M y and

Support line

o Experimental
results

Program
PSALM

1 5 6 6m m 4

Fig. 6. Twisting moment M,, along section A due to 492 N load at points 1, 5, and 9
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 A. R. CUSENS AND I. I. BESSER
the twisting moment M , , for the model with two line
supports are also given in Figs 4, 5 , and 7, respectively.
On comparing the results for the line support with those
for discrete point supports, it can be seen that the
moments at the obtuse corner increase in absolute value
when the line support is used.
4.3 Reactive forces
The experimental reactive forces for three load cases are
summarized in Fig. 8 and compared with finite element
values. Special attention was paid to evaluation of the
stiffnesses of the load cells, which have a considerable
effect upon the magnitude and distribution of the
reactions at the obtuse corner. The elasticity of the
bearings, apart from the position of the load, is a factor
which profoundly affects the relative magnitudes of the
reactions at the supports.
4.4 Shear forces
The distribution of transverse shear forces along a
section 6 mm from the support line was obtained
experimentally and compared with finite element values.
The distribution of transverse forces is given for the
two support conditions, i.e., eight discrete support points
and a continuous knife edge. The latter includes the cases
Suomn line,
Diwrete p i n t supporlr
-- -Program PSALM
0 Eipenmcnlal
Knile-edge s u p p r l
Program PSALM
o Experimental
Fig. 7. Twisting moment M,, along section K due to 492 N load at
points 1, 5, and 9
108
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in which (1) the plate was restrained against uplift along
the support line, and (2) the plate was left free to displace
upwards (i.e., to lift off the support).
Figures 9 to 11 present the experimental and analytical
distributions of shear force for three of the load cases and
the plate under discrete and line support conditions. It
can be seen that the experimental results for the shear
force Q, compare reasonably well with the theoretical
ones for both support conditions. In the case of the shear
force Qy,the agreement between the values is not so
close, especially at the obtuse corner where the analytical
values are consistently higher than the test results. For
the case in which the plate was left free over the line
supports, the values of the shear forces Q, and Q, at the
obtuse corner are larger than the theoretical results and
larger than the case where the slab is restrained from
lifting. The corresponding local deformations of the plate
were also larger, as monitored by a dial gauge.
5 EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCES
For solutions based on the fourth order plate equation,
the static shear force is approximately equal to the sums
of direct shear forces and the edge forces. The latter have
been defined as concentrated forces of magnitude equal
to the twisting moments at the edges of the plate.
In Fig. 7 it was seen that the experimental twisting
moment M,,, near the free edge, at the obtuse corner, is
smaller than the theoretical value, but that it still
represents a large value. For the value to become zero, in
I a distance of 6 mm to the edge, means that the gradient
of the twisting moment has to be large. This large value
of the gradient of M,, in the y direction has a direct
influence on the value of the shear force Q, as given by
equation (3), and confirms the existence of a large shear
force distributed over a very short distance near the edge
of the plate.
Figure 12 represents the values of the shear force Q,,
along a line 6 mm from the support, obtained from
resolving Q, and Q, for the model with line supports and
restrained from uplift. Each figure shows the distribution
of Q, for a different position of the load along the mid-
span. The values obtained at the 9 points along the
section K are joined by lines giving a general idea of the
distribution of the shear forces. By applying Simpson’s
rule the integral of shear force is obtained. This value is
c
given in each figure as Q,. The percentage of this force
in terms of the static shear force is also shown. It was
found that for those load cases which produced low
values of twisting moment (Fig. 12(c)),the summation of
shear forces Q, agreed well with the total static shear.
The apparently poorer accuracy in the other load cases is
due mainly to the factor which has been already
discussed, in relation to the gradient of the twisting
moment M , , near the edge of the plate. When the values
of twisting moment measured near the edges of the plate
are added to the direction shear Q,, the results are much
improved. The deviation of these values in terms of the
total static shear is also given in Fig. 12(a), (b), and (c).
6 CONCLUSIONS
(1) An approximate experimental method to obtain the
shear forces in a plate model based on the gradients of
JOURNAL OF STRAIN ANALYSIS VOL 15 NO 2 1980 P IMechE 1980
 ELASTIC STRESS PARAMETERS IN SIMPLY SUPPORTED SKEW PLATES IN FLEXURE

3 50

300

250

200
-0- Experimental
150

100

50

- 50

150

I00

50

- 50

150

100

50

- 50

Fig. 8. Support reactions due to load at points 1, 5, and 9

the moments, has been introduced. Although the
experimental determination of shear forces was carried
out along a section close to the support line (where the
stresses experience rapid changes), the technique proved
to be effective in most load cases and for both support
conditions used in the experiment.
(2) The corner and edge forces introduced by the
Kirchhoff boundary condition are physically significant,
in that although there is no actual concentrated force at
the edge of the plate, a large shear force is distributed
JOURNAL OF STRAIN ANALYSIS VOL 15 NO 2 1980 ?I IMechE 1980
within a very short distance of the edge. This large shear
force originates from steep gradients of moments
confirmed by test results.
(3) Test results show that when a skew slab is
supported on bearings, their elastic deformation has a
considerable effect upon the behaviour of the skew plate.
The bearings having most effect are those placed at the
obtuse corner. Elastic bearings lead to a more even
distribution of reactive forces than a rigid support
condition.
109

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 A. R. CUSENS A N D I. I. BESSER

Divrctc point supports Dirrcte point supports

--- Program PSALM -- - Program PSALM
0 Experimental 0 Expenmental

Knife-edge support Knife-cdgc support

-Program PSALM -Program PSALM
o Experimental-no uplift Experimental-no uplift
fi Experimental-free to uplift a Expenmental -free to uplift
Support lnne Support h e

5.0 5.0
4.0 4.0
3.0 3.0
2.0 2.0
1.o 1 .0

E o 0
3 -1.0 E
E -1.0
6.0 z' 6.0
5.0 5.0
4.0 4.0
3.0 3.0
2.0 2.0
1 .o 1 .o
0 0'
- 1.0 - 1.0

Fig. 9. Distribution of shear forces 0,and 0,along section K due to Fig. 11. Distribution of shear forces 0,and 0, along section K due
a concentrated load at point 1 to a concentrated load at point 5

566mm
Dtrretc point supports
---Program PSALM 5.0.
o Experimental

Kndc-cdgc support
-Program
o
A
PSALM
Experimental-no uplift
Experimental-free to uplift
Support h e
4.0-i

1 .o
{-
*;: Edge forces
!=0.5-

*- Z Q n = 157.7 N 64 per cent

0 0
-
a

- 1 .o +
Total shear force = 157.7 87.5 0.5 = 245.7 N +
Deviation-= 0.1 per cent
4.oi
(a)
MC= 0.8
Edge forces

- +
Total shear force = 164.0 61.5 0.8 = 226.3 N +
Deviation =
__8.0 per cent
(b)
4.0-
MC = 5.0
Edge forces

+
Total shear force = 243.1 5.0 0.1 = 248.2 N +
Deviation =- 0.9 per cent
(c)

Fig. 10. Distribution of shear forces 0,and 0, along section K due Fig. 12. Distribution fo shear force 0. along section K due to
to a concentrated load at point 3 concentrated loads at (a) point 1, (b) point 3, and (c) point 7

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 ELASTIC STRESS PARAMETERS IN SIMPLY SUPPORTED SKEW PLATES IN FLEXURE
(4) Large reversals in the values of bending moments
occurred mainly in the obtuse corner regions of the skew
plate with different positions of load. Measured from the
obtuse corner the position of the point of contraflexure
had a maximum value of 0.161,. Although the values of
moments at the acute corner are relatively small, a
second point of contraflexure can be distinguished at a
point approximately 0.51, from the corner.
(5) The largest values of twisting moment occurred at
points close to the free edges and towards the obtuse
corner, and demonstrated a steep stress gradient.
APPENDIX
REFERENCES
(1) TIMOSHENKO, S. P. and WOINOWSKY-KRIEGER, S . Theory ofplates
and shells. 2nd edition, 1959 (McGraw-Hill, New York).
(2) RUSCH, H. and HERGENRODER, A. Influence surfaces for moments in
skew slabs. Cement and Concrete Association Library Translation, 1961,
London.
JOURNAL OF STRAIN ANALYSIS VOL 15 NO 2 1980 %, IMechE 1980
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(3) KENNEDY, J. B. and MARTENS, I. C. ‘Stresses near corners of skewed
stiffened plates’, The Structural Engineer 1963 41, 345-346.
(4) KENNEDY, J. B. and TAMBERG, K. C. Problems of skew in concrete
bridge design. Report No. RR144, Department of Highways, Ontario,
March, 1969.
(5) ROBINSON, K. E. The behaviour of simply supported skew bridge slabs
under concentrated loads. Cement and Concrete Association, Research
Report 9, 1959.
(6) MEHMEL, A. and WEISE, H. Model investigation on skew slabs on
elasrically yieldingpoint supports. Cement and Concrete Association Library
Translation No. 123, 1963, London.
(7) ANDRA, W. and LEONHARDT, F. Influence of the spacing of the bearings
on bending moments and reactions in single-span skew slabs. Cement and
Concrete Association Library Translation No. 99, 1960, London.
(8) JAEGER, L. G. Elementary theory of elastic plates 1964 (Pergamon Press,
Oxford) pp. 23-29.
(9) COULL, A. ‘Comer forces in plate theory’, The Engineer 1965 220,
335-336.
(10) REISSNER, E. ‘Onbending of elastic plates’, Quart. J. Appl. Maths. 1947 5,
55.
(11) Department of the Environment. ‘Programs for the analysis and design of
reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete slab bridges’, HECB/B/13,
Strand-Version 2, Program PSALM, 1976.
111