Advanced Mechanics of Solids (ME60402) Mechanical Engineering

Spring Semester, 2021 IIT Kharagpur

Classical Plate Theory ∗

We use the following kinematical hypothesis:
𝜕𝑤
𝑢 = 𝑢𝑠 − 𝑧 ,
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤
𝑣 = 𝑣𝑠 − 𝑧 ,
𝜕𝑦
𝑤 ≡ 𝑤(𝑥, 𝑦),
using which we obtain from the strain-displacement relationships, the following:
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤
𝜀𝑥𝑥 = = −𝑧 2,
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤
𝜀𝑦𝑦 = = −𝑧 2,
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑤
𝜀𝑧𝑧 = = 0,
𝜕𝑧
1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤
𝜀𝑥𝑦 = + = + −𝑧 ,
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
1 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝜀𝑦𝑧 = + = − + = 0,
2 ( 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 ) 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝜀𝑧𝑥 = + = − + = 0.
(
2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 ) 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 )

Since 𝜀𝑦𝑧 and 𝜀𝑧𝑥 are zero, from Hooke’s law, it follows that 𝜎𝑦𝑧 and 𝜎𝑧𝑥 are also zero. Addi-
tionally, since 𝜀𝑧𝑧 = 0, so 𝜎𝑧𝑧 = 𝜈(𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 ). Now, 𝜎𝑥𝑥 and 𝜎𝑦𝑦 are not zero, therefore 𝜎𝑧𝑧 is not
zero. However, we forcibly assume plane stress conditions and take 𝜎𝑧𝑧 = 0.
Using 𝜎𝑧𝑧 = 0 in the following relations from Hooke’s law:
1
𝜀𝑥𝑥 = [𝜎𝑥𝑥 − 𝜈 (𝜎𝑦𝑦 + 𝜎𝑧𝑧 )] ,
𝐸
1
𝜀𝑦𝑦 = [𝜎𝑦𝑦 − 𝜈 (𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑧𝑧 )] ,
𝐸
we have
𝐸
𝜎𝑥𝑥 = (𝜀𝑥𝑥 + 𝜈𝜀𝑦𝑦 ) ,
1 − 𝜈2
𝐸
𝜎𝑦𝑦 = (𝜀𝑦𝑦 + 𝜈𝜀𝑥𝑥 ) .
1 − 𝜈2

Considering the virtual work equation:

∫ 𝜎𝑖𝑗 𝛿𝜀𝑖𝑗 d𝑉 = ∫ 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖 d𝐴,

𝑉 𝐴
∗ Notes prepared by Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty. Contact: jeevan@mech.iitkgp.ac.in

1
Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Classical Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

we have from the left hand side

LHS = ∫ 𝜎𝑖𝑗 𝛿𝜀𝑖𝑗 d𝑉

𝑉

= ∫ (𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝛿𝜀𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝛿𝜀𝑦𝑦 + 2𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝜀𝑥𝑦 ) d𝑣

𝑉
ℎ/2
𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤 1 𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤
=∫ ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 −𝑧 + 𝜎 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑧 + 2𝜎 𝑥𝑦 + − 2𝑧 d𝑧d𝐴
𝐴 −ℎ/2 [ ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 ) 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 )]
ℎ/2
𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠
=∫ ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 + 𝜎𝑥𝑦 + d𝑧d𝐴
𝐴 −ℎ/2 [ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 )]
ℎ/2 ℎ/2 ℎ/2
𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤
−∫ ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑧 d𝑧d𝐴 − ∫ ∫ 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝑧 d𝑧d𝐴 − 2 ∫ ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝑧 d𝑧d𝐴
𝐴 −ℎ/2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝐴 −ℎ/2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝐴 −ℎ/2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
We note in the last step that stretching and bending are completely decoupled. Considering
only bending and using the following definitions
ℎ/2 ℎ/2 ℎ/2
𝑀𝑥 = ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑧 d𝑧, 𝑀𝑦 = ∫ 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝑧 d𝑧, 𝑀𝑥𝑦 = ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝑧 d𝑧,
−ℎ/2 −ℎ/2 −ℎ/2

we obtain the following:

𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤 𝜕 2 𝛿𝑤
LHSbending = − ∫ 𝑀𝑥 d𝐴 − 𝑀
∫ 𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 d𝐴 − 2 ∫ 𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 d𝐴
𝑀
𝐴 𝜕𝑥 2 𝐴 𝐴
𝜕 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝛿𝑤
or, − LHSbending = ∫ 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑀𝑦 d𝐴 + ∫ 𝑀𝑥𝑦 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 d𝐴
𝐴 [ 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 )] 𝐴 [ 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑥 )]
𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑀𝑦 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝛿𝑤
−∫ d𝐴 − ∫ d𝐴 − ∫ d𝐴 − ∫ d𝐴
𝐴 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝐴 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝐴 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝐴 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤

=∮ 𝑀𝑥 𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠 + ∮ 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠
[( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ] [( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ]
⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ 𝜕 𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥 ⎥ ⎢ 𝜕 𝜕𝑀𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑦 ⎥
−∫ ⎢ 𝛿𝑤 − 𝛿𝑤 ⎥ d𝐴 − ∫ ⎢ 𝛿𝑤 − 𝛿𝑤 ⎥ d𝐴
𝐴 ⎢ 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑥 2
⎥ 𝐴 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑦 2
⎢⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⎥
⎢⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ 1 ⎦ ⎣ 2 ⎦
⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ 𝜕 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥𝑦 ⎥ ⎢ 𝜕 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥𝑦 ⎥
−∫ ⎢ 𝛿𝑤 − 𝛿𝑤 ⎥ d𝐴 − ∫ ⎢ 𝛿𝑤 − 𝛿𝑤 ⎥ d𝐴
𝐴 ⎢ 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
⎥ 𝐴 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
⎢⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⎥
⎢⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎣ 3 ⎦ ⎣ 4 ⎦
(1)

Considering the terms 1 with 2 and 3 with 4 , and using Green’s theorem, we obtain (after
transposing the negative sign from the left hand side)

2
Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Classical Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤

LHSbending = − ∮ 𝑀𝑥 𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠 − ∮ 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠
[( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ] [( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ]
𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑀𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦
+∮ 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑥 + 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠 + ∮ 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑦 + 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑥 d𝑠
[( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ] [( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ]
2 2 2
𝜕 𝑀𝑥 𝜕 𝑀𝑦 𝜕 𝑀𝑥𝑦
−∫ + +2 𝛿𝑤 d𝐴 (2)
𝐴 [( 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ) ]
We note that the terms on the right hand side can be classified as boundary integral terms
(those within ∮ ) and domain integral terms (those within ∫𝐴 ). The domain integral terms ex-
pressed in terms of 𝑀𝑥 , 𝑀𝑦 , and 𝑀𝑥𝑦 can be rewritten in terms of the displacement component
𝑤; thus
ℎ/2
𝑀𝑥 = ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑧 d𝑧
−ℎ/2
ℎ/2
𝐸
=∫ 𝜀 + 𝜈𝜀𝑦𝑦 ) 𝑧 d𝑧
2 ( 𝑥𝑥
−ℎ/2 1 − 𝜈
ℎ/2
𝐸 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤
= − 𝑧 + 𝜈 − 𝜈𝑧 𝑧 d𝑧
1 − 𝜈 2 ∫−ℎ/2 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 )
ℎ/2
𝐸 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
=− + 𝜈 𝑧 2 d𝑧
1 − 𝜈 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 ) ∫−ℎ/2
𝐸ℎ3 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
=− + 𝜈
12(1 − 𝜈 2 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 )
𝐸ℎ3
Setting 𝐷 = (it is referred to as the bending rigidity), and proceeding similarly as
12(1 − 𝜈 2 )
above for 𝑀𝑦 and 𝑀𝑥𝑦 , we have
𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
𝑀𝑥 = −𝐷 + 𝜈 , (3a)
( 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 )
𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
𝑀𝑦 = −𝐷 +𝜈 2 , (3b)
( 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 )
𝜕 2𝑤
𝑀𝑥𝑦 = −𝐷(1 − 𝜈) (3c)
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

Using these expressions of 𝑀𝑥 , 𝑀𝑦 , and 𝑀𝑥𝑦 , we have

𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥𝑦
+ + 2
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
4 4
𝜕 𝑤 𝜕 𝑤 𝜕 4𝑤 𝜕 4𝑤 𝜕 4𝑤
=−𝐷 + 𝜈 + + 𝜈 + 2(1 − 𝜈)
( 𝜕𝑥 4 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 4 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 )
𝜕 4𝑤 𝜕 4𝑤 𝜕 4𝑤
= −𝐷 + + 2
( 𝜕𝑥 4 𝜕𝑦 4 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 )
= −𝐷∇4 𝑤

3
Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Classical Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

Therefore, we have the following

𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤

LHSbending = − ∮ 𝑀𝑥 𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠 − ∮ 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠
[( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ] [( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ]
𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑀𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦
+∮ 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑥 + 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠 + ∮ 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑥 + 𝛿𝑤 𝑛𝑦 d𝑠
[( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ] [( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ]

+ ∫ 𝐷∇4 𝑤d𝐴 (4)

𝐴

Now, going back to the right hand side of the virtual work equation and considering the
contribution due only to bending we have

RHSbending = ∫ 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖 d𝐴 = ∫ 𝑞𝛿𝑤 d𝐴.

𝐴 𝐴

Bringing together the left hand and right hand sides, we thus have

LHSbending = RHSbending ,

from which we obtain the following:

4 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤

∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 − ∮ [𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑛𝑦 ] d𝑠 − ∮ [𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝑛𝑦 ] d𝑠
𝐴

⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ 𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑀𝑦 ⎥ ⎢ 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 ⎥
+∮ ⎢ 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑥 + 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑦 ⎥ d𝑠 + ∮ ⎢ 𝜕𝑦 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑥 + 𝜕𝑥 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑦 ⎥ d𝑠 = 0
𝜕𝑥
⎢⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞ 𝜕𝑦
⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⎥ ⎢⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⎥
⎢ 1
⎥ ⎢ 4
⎥
⎣ 3 ⎦ ⎣ 2 ⎦
(5)

Now, consider the 𝑥-component of the mechanical equilibrium equations, and integrate as
follows:
ℎ/2
𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑧
∫ 𝑧+ 𝑧+ 𝑧 d𝑧 = 0
−ℎ/2 [ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 ]
ℎ/2
𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦
or, + + [𝑧𝜎𝑥𝑧 ]ℎ/2
−ℎ/2 − ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑧 d𝑧 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 −ℎ/2
ℎ/2
𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦
or, + = 𝑄𝑥 (using 𝜎𝑥𝑧 = 0 and 𝑄𝑥 = ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑧 d𝑧)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 −ℎ/2

Similarly, we have
𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑦
+ = 𝑄𝑦 ,
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

4
Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Classical Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

ℎ/2
where 𝑄𝑦 = ∫ 𝜎𝑦𝑧 d𝑧.
−ℎ/2

Going back to Eq. (5) and considering the terms 1 together with 2 , and 3 together with 4 ,
we obtain

4 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤

∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 − ∮ [𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑛𝑦 ] d𝑠 − ∮ [𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝑛𝑦 ] d𝑠
𝐴

+ ∮ 𝑄𝑥 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑥 d𝑠 + ∮ 𝑄𝑦 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑦 d𝑠 = 0. (6)

Now we want to convert the preceding equation from the (𝑥, 𝑦) coordinate system to the
(𝑠, 𝑛) coordinate system where 𝑠 is the coordinate along the periphery of the plate and 𝑛 is the
coordinate perpendicular to it. Towards that end, we first establish the relationship between
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
, and , .
𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

For any point on the periphery given by 𝒓 = 𝑥 𝐢+𝑦 ̂ 𝑦 𝐣̂ ≡ d𝑦 𝐢−

̂ 𝐣,̂ the unit normal is 𝐞̂ 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑥 𝐢+𝑛 ̂ d𝑥 𝐣.̂
d𝑠 d𝑠
Then for an elemental line segment at 𝒓 we have,

d𝑠 𝐞̂ 𝑠 = d𝑥 𝐢̂ + d𝑦 𝐣,̂
d𝑥 ̂ d𝑦 ̂
or, 𝐞̂ 𝑠 = 𝐢 + 𝐣 ≡ −𝑛𝑦 𝐢̂ + 𝑛𝑥 𝐣.̂
d𝑠 d𝑠
Consider the gradient of any arbitrary scalar 𝜙 first in the (𝑥, 𝑦) coordinate system and next
in the (𝑠, 𝑛) coordinate system. Thus we have

𝜕𝜙 ̂ 𝜕𝜙 ̂
∇𝜙 = 𝐢+ 𝐣,
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

and
𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙
∇𝜙 = 𝐞̂ 𝑠 + 𝐞̂ 𝑛 ,
𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛
𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙
= (−𝑛𝑦 𝐢̂ + 𝑛𝑥 𝐣̂) + (𝑛𝑥 𝐢̂ + 𝑛𝑦 𝐣̂) ,
𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛
𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙
= − 𝑛𝑦 + 𝑛𝑥 𝐢̂ + 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑛𝑦 𝐣̂
( 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 ) ( 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 )

Comparing the two expressions of ∇𝜙, we obtain

𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= −𝑛𝑦 + 𝑛𝑥 ,
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
= 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑛𝑦 .
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛

5
Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Classical Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

Then from Eq. (6), we obtain

4 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤

∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 − ∮ [𝑀𝑥 (−𝑛𝑦 𝜕𝑠 + 𝑛𝑥 𝜕𝑛 ) d𝑦 − 𝑀𝑦 (𝑛𝑥 𝜕𝑠 + 𝑛𝑦 𝜕𝑛 ) d𝑥 ]
𝐴
𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
− ∮ 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑛𝑦 d𝑦 − 𝑀𝑥𝑦 −𝑛𝑦 + 𝑛𝑥 d𝑥
[ ( 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 ) ( 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 ) ]
+ ∮ 𝑄𝑥 𝛿𝑤d𝑦 − ∮ 𝑄𝑦 𝛿𝑤d𝑥 = 0,
𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
or, 4
∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 − ∮ 𝑀𝑥 (−𝑛𝑦 𝜕𝑠 + 𝑛𝑥 𝜕𝑛 ) 𝑛𝑥 d𝑠 + 𝑀𝑦 (𝑛𝑥 𝜕𝑠 + 𝑛𝑦 𝜕𝑛 ) (−𝑛𝑦 )d𝑠
𝐴
𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
− ∮ 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑛𝑦 𝑛𝑥 d𝑠 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 −𝑛𝑦 + 𝑛𝑥 (−𝑛𝑦 )d𝑠
( 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 ) ( 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑛 )
+ ∮ 𝑄𝑥 𝛿𝑤𝑛𝑥 d𝑠 − ∮ 𝑄𝑦 𝛿𝑤(−𝑛𝑦 )d𝑠 = 0,

2 𝜕𝛿𝑤
or, 4 2
∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 + ∮ (𝑀𝑥 𝑛𝑦 𝑛𝑥 − 𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑥 𝑛𝑦 − 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑠 d𝑠
𝐴
𝜕𝛿𝑤
+ ∮ (−𝑀𝑥 𝑛𝑥2 − 𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑦2 − 2𝑀𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 𝑛𝑦 ) d𝑠
𝜕𝑛
+ ∮ (𝑄𝑥 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑄𝑦 𝑛𝑦 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝑠 = 0. (7)

From stress-transformation we have

𝜎𝑛𝑛 = 𝑛𝑥2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑛𝑥 𝑛𝑦 𝜎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑛𝑦2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 , (8a)

𝜎𝑛𝑠 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛𝑦 (𝜎𝑦𝑦 − 𝜎𝑥𝑥 ) + (𝑛𝑥2 − 𝑛𝑦2 ) 𝜎𝑥𝑦 , (8b)

from which we obtain

𝑀𝑛 = 𝑛𝑥2 𝑀𝑥 + 2𝑛𝑥 𝑛𝑦 𝑀𝑥𝑦 + 𝑛𝑦2 𝑀𝑦 , (9a)

𝑀𝑛𝑠 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛𝑦 (𝑀𝑦 − 𝑀𝑥 ) + 2
(𝑛𝑥 − 𝑛𝑦2 ) 𝑀𝑥𝑦 . (9b)

Using Eqns (9a) and (9b) in Eq. (7), we obtain

𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
4
∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 − ∮ 𝑀𝑛𝑠 𝜕𝑠 d𝑠 − ∮ 𝑀𝑛 𝜕𝑛 d𝑠 + ∮ 𝑄𝑛 𝛿𝑤d𝑠 = 0. (10)
𝐴

𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑀𝑛𝑠
Now, ∮ 𝑀𝑛𝑠 d𝑠 = [𝑀𝑛𝑠 𝛿𝑤]21 − ∮ 𝛿𝑤d𝑠. For a closed contour, [𝑀𝑛𝑠 𝛿𝑤]21 = 0; therefore
𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠

4 𝜕𝑀𝑛𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑤
∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 + ∮ 𝜕𝑠
𝛿𝑤d𝑠 − ∮ 𝑀𝑛
𝜕𝑛
d𝑠 + ∮ 𝑄𝑛 𝛿𝑤d𝑠 = 0,
𝐴
𝜕𝑀𝑛𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑤
or, 4
∫ (𝐷∇ 𝑤 − 𝑞 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝐴 + ∮ ( 𝜕𝑠 + 𝑄𝑛 ) 𝛿𝑤d𝑠 − ∮ 𝑀𝑛 𝜕𝑛 d𝑠 = 0. (11)
𝐴

So, the governing equation is

𝐷∇4 𝑤 = 𝑞, (12)

6
Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Classical Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

and the boundary conditions are given by

𝜕𝑀𝑛𝑠
Either + 𝑄𝑛 = 0 or, 𝑤 is specified, (13a)
𝜕𝑠
𝜕𝑤
Either 𝑀𝑛 = 0 or, is specified. (13b)
𝜕𝑛