Advanced Mechanics of Solids (ME60402) Mechanical Engineering

Spring Semester, 2021 IIT Kharagpur

Föppl-von Karman Plate Theory ∗

We start from the following kinematical hypothesis:
𝜕𝑤
𝑢 = 𝑢𝑠 − 𝑧 , (1)
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤
𝑣 = 𝑣𝑠 − 𝑧 , (2)
𝜕𝑦
𝑤 ≡ 𝑤(𝑥, 𝑦). (3)

Just like in the case of buckling of beams, we use the nonlinear strain-displacement relations.
We also assume the following
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
≫ , and ≫ , . (4)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

{ }
2 2 2
𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑥𝑥 ≡ + + +
𝜕𝑥 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 )
2
𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕 2 𝑤 1 𝜕𝑤
≈ −𝑧 2 + , (5)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 )
{ }
2 2 2
𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑦𝑦 ≡ + + +
𝜕𝑦 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 )
2
𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2 𝑤 1 𝜕𝑤
≈ −𝑧 2 + , (6)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 )
{ }
2 2 2
𝜕𝑤 1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑧𝑧 ≡ + + +
𝜕𝑧 2 ( 𝜕𝑧 ) ( 𝜕𝑧 ) ( 𝜕𝑧 )
{ }
2 2
1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
= + , (7)
2 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑥𝑦 ≡ + + + +
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
= + − 2𝑧 + , (8)
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑦𝑧 ≡ + + + +
2 ( 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 )
1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕𝑤
≈ − + + −𝑧 − + −𝑧 2 − +0
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) )
≈ 0, (9)
∗ Notes prepared by Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty. Contact: jeevan@mech.iitkgp.ac.in

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Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Föppl-von Karman Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

1 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑧𝑥 ≡ + + + +
2 ( 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 )
1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕 2𝑤
≈ − + + − −𝑧 2 + − −𝑧 +0
2 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ) )
≈ 0. (10)

We represent the terms 𝐸𝑥𝑥 , 𝐸𝑦𝑦 , and 𝐸𝑥𝑦 as

𝜕 2𝑤
0
𝐸𝑥𝑥 = 𝐸𝑥𝑥 −𝑧 , (11a)
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕 2𝑤
𝐸𝑦𝑦 0
= 𝐸𝑦𝑦 −𝑧 2, (11b)
𝜕𝑦
𝜕 2𝑤
𝐸𝑥𝑦 0
= 𝐸𝑥𝑦 −𝑧 , (11c)
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
where
2
𝜕𝑢𝑠 1 𝜕𝑤
0
𝐸𝑥𝑥 = + , (12a)
𝜕𝑥 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 )
2
𝜕𝑣𝑠 1 𝜕𝑤
0
𝐸𝑦𝑦 = + , (12b)
𝜕𝑦 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝑣𝑠 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
0
𝐸𝑥𝑦 = + + , (12c)
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
where, notably, each of 𝐸𝑥𝑥
0
, 𝐸𝑦𝑦
0
, and 𝐸𝑥𝑦
0
is independent of 𝑧.
Considering the virtual work equation:

∫ 𝜎𝑖𝑗 𝛿𝐸𝑖𝑗 d𝑉 = ∫ 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖 d𝐴,

𝑉 𝐴

and again forcibly assuming 𝜎𝑧𝑧 = 0 (just as in the classical plate theory), we have from the
left hand side

LHS = ∫ 𝜎𝑖𝑗 𝛿𝐸𝑖𝑗 d𝑉

𝑉

= ∫ [𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝛿𝐸𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝛿𝐸𝑦𝑦 + 2𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝐸𝑥𝑦 ] d𝑉

𝑉
ℎ/2
0 𝜕 2𝑤 0 𝜕 2𝑤 0 𝜕 2𝑤
=∫ ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝛿 𝐸𝑥𝑥 −𝑧 + 𝜎 𝑦𝑦 𝛿 𝐸 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑧 + 2𝜎 𝑥𝑦 𝛿 𝐸 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑧 d𝑧 d𝐴
𝐴 −ℎ/2 ( 𝜕𝑥 2 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 2 ) ( 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 )
0 0 0 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
= ∫ [(𝑁𝑥 𝛿𝐸𝑥𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 𝛿𝐸𝑦𝑦 + 2𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝐸𝑥𝑦 )] d𝐴 + −
∫ [ ( 𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝑀 + 𝑀 𝑦 + 2𝑀 𝑥𝑦 d𝐴 .
𝐴 𝐴 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 )]
⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟
LHS1 LHS2

To write the last step, we have used the following definitions:

ℎ/2 ℎ/2

∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 d𝑧 = 𝑁𝑥 ; ∫ 𝑧𝜎𝑥𝑥 d𝑧 = 𝑀𝑥 ;
−ℎ/2 −ℎ/2

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Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Föppl-von Karman Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

ℎ/2 ℎ/2

∫ 𝜎𝑦𝑦 d𝑧 = 𝑁𝑦 ; ∫ 𝑧𝜎𝑦𝑦 d𝑧 = 𝑀𝑦 ;
−ℎ/2 −ℎ/2
ℎ/2 ℎ/2

∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑦 d𝑧 = 𝑁𝑥𝑦 ; ∫ 𝑧𝜎𝑥𝑦 d𝑧 = 𝑀𝑥𝑦 .

−ℎ/2 −ℎ/2

We now consider the two integrals LHS1 and LHS2 separately.

0 0 0
LHS1 = ∫ [𝑁𝑥 𝛿𝐸𝑥𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 𝐸𝑦𝑦 + 2𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝐸𝑥𝑦 ] d𝐴
𝐴
𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
=∫ 𝑁𝑥 + + 𝑁𝑦 +
𝐴[ ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
+2𝑁𝑥𝑦 + + + d𝐴
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 )]
𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑢𝑠 𝜕𝛿𝑣𝑠
= ∫ 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦
𝐴[ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤
+ 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 d𝐴
( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑦 ]
⎡
⎢
⎢𝜕 𝜕𝑁𝑥 𝜕 𝜕𝑁𝑦
= ∫ ⎢ (𝑁𝑥 𝛿𝑢𝑠 ) − 𝛿𝑢𝑠 + (𝑁𝑦 𝛿𝑣𝑠 ) − 𝛿𝑣𝑠
𝐴 ⎢ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟
⎢ 1
⎣ 4
𝜕 𝜕𝑁 𝑥𝑦 𝜕 𝜕𝑁𝑥𝑦
+ (𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑢𝑠 ) − 𝛿𝑢𝑠 + (𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑣𝑠 ) − 𝛿𝑣𝑠
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞
⏟ ⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞
⏟
5 2
{ }
𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
+ 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤 − 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤
𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟
3
⎤
{ } ⎥
𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 ⎥
+ 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤 − 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤 ⎥ d𝐴
𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) ⎥
⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏞⏟ ⎥
6 ⎦

We consider the terms 1 , 2 , 3 together and the terms 4 , 5 , 6 together, use the Green’s
d𝑦 d𝑥
theorem alongwith the relations 𝑛𝑥 = and 𝑛𝑦 = − . We also rearrange the remaining
d𝑠 d𝑠
terms. Thus, we obtain
{ }
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
LHS1 = ∮ 𝑁 𝛿𝑢 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑣𝑠 + 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤 d𝑦
[ 𝑥 𝑠 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )

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Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Föppl-von Karman Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

{ }
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
− 𝑁𝑦 𝛿𝑣𝑠 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑢𝑠 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤 d𝑥
( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) ]
𝜕𝑁𝑥 𝜕𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑁𝑦
−∫ + 𝛿𝑢𝑠 + + 𝛿𝑣𝑠
𝐴 [( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
{ }
𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
+ 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 + 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝛿𝑤 d𝐴
𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) ]

𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑀𝑥 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦

LHS2 = − ∮ 𝑀𝑥 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 − 𝛿𝑤 − 𝛿𝑤 d𝑦
[( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝛿𝑤 𝜕𝑀𝑦 𝜕𝑀𝑥𝑦
− 𝑀𝑦 + 𝑀𝑥𝑦 − 𝛿𝑤 − 𝛿𝑤 d𝑥
( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) ]
𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥𝑦
−∫ 2
+ + 2 𝛿𝑤 d𝐴
𝐴 [ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ]

For the right hand side of the virtual work equation we have

RHS ≡ ∫ 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖 d𝐴 = ∫ 𝑞𝛿𝑤 d𝐴.

𝐴 𝐴

Substituting the expressions of LHS1 , LHS2 , and the RHS into the virtual work equation, col-
lecting the coefficients of 𝛿𝑢𝑠 , 𝛿𝑣𝑠 , and 𝛿𝑤𝑠 in the area integrals, and setting them individually
to zero we have the following governing equations:
𝜕𝑁𝑥 𝜕𝑁𝑥𝑦
+ = 0, (13a)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝑁𝑦
+ = 0, (13b)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑀𝑥𝑦
− 𝑁𝑥 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 − 𝑁𝑦 + 𝑁𝑥𝑦 − + + 2 = 𝑞 (13c)
𝜕𝑥 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ) ( 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 )

Now, we expand (13c) and use (13a) and (13b) in it. We also use the the following

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

to obtain the following:

𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
− 𝑁𝑥 2 + 2𝑁𝑥𝑦 + 𝑁𝑦 2 + 𝐷∇4 𝑤 − 𝑞 = 0. (14)
( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 )

We set 𝑁𝑥 , 𝑁𝑦 , and 𝑁𝑥𝑦 in terms of a scalar function 𝐹 as

𝜕 2𝐹
𝑁𝑥 = , (15a)
𝜕𝑥 2

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Advanced Mechanics of Solids Mechanical Engineering
Föppl-von Karman Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

𝜕 2𝐹
𝑁𝑦 = , (15b)
𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕 2𝐹
𝑁𝑥𝑦 =− (15c)
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

and substitute in (14) to obtain

𝜕 2𝐹 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝐹 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝐹 𝜕 2𝑤
𝐷∇4 𝑤 = 𝑞 + − 2 + . (16)
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

This is the first of the Föppl-von Karman equations. In this equation, both 𝑤 and 𝐹 are un-
known. So we need another equation to solve for 𝑤 and 𝐹 .
We know that the first of the compatibility equations is

𝜕 2 𝜀𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜀𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜀𝑥𝑦

+ = 2 , (17)
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
where 𝜀𝑥𝑥 , 𝜀𝑦𝑦 , and 𝜀𝑥𝑦 are infinitesimal strain tensor components. These are related to 𝐸𝑥𝑥 ,
𝐸𝑦𝑦 , and 𝐸𝑥𝑦 as
2
1 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑥𝑥 = 𝜀𝑥𝑥 + ,
2 ( 𝜕𝑥 )
2
1 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑦𝑦 = 𝜀𝑦𝑦 + ,
2 ( 𝜕𝑦 )
1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝐸𝑥𝑦 = 𝜀𝑥𝑦 + .
2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Therefore, from (17), we have

{ } { }
2 2
𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 2 𝐸𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥𝑦 𝜕2 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
2
− 2
+ 2
− 2
= 2 − 2 ,
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ( 2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )
{ } { }
2 2
𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝐸𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥𝑦 𝜕 2 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕 2 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕2 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
or, + − 2 = + − .
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2 2 ( 𝜕𝑥 ) 𝜕𝑥 2 2 ( 𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 )

Using (11), expanding the terms and simplifying, we obtain the following
2
𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥𝑥
0 𝜕 2 𝐸𝑦𝑦
0
𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥𝑦
0
𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
+ − 2 = − . (18)
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ( 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Now,
ℎ/2
𝑁𝑥 = ∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 d𝑧,
−ℎ/2
ℎ/2
𝐸
= (𝐸𝑥𝑥 + 𝜈𝐸𝑦𝑦 ) d𝑧,
1 − 𝜈 2 ∫−ℎ/2

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Föppl-von Karman Plate Theory IIT Kharagpur

ℎ/2
𝐸 0 𝜕 2𝑤 0 𝜕 2𝑤
= 𝐸 − 𝑧 + 𝜈𝐸 − 𝜈𝑧 d𝑧,
1 − 𝜈 2 ∫−ℎ/2 ( 𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦
𝜕𝑦 2 )
ℎ/2
𝐸 0 0
= (𝐸 + 𝜈𝐸𝑦𝑦 ) d𝑧,
1 − 𝜈 2 ∫−ℎ/2 𝑥𝑥
𝐸ℎ 0 0
= (𝐸 + 𝜈𝐸𝑦𝑦 ) ,
1 − 𝜈 2 𝑥𝑥
0 0
= 𝐶 (𝐸𝑥𝑥 + 𝜈𝐸𝑦𝑦 ).

𝐸ℎ
Setting 𝐶 = , and expanding similarly for 𝑁𝑦 and 𝑁𝑥𝑦 , we obtain
1 − 𝜈2
0
𝑁𝑥 = 𝐶 (𝐸𝑥𝑥 0
+ 𝜈𝐸𝑦𝑦 ), (19a)
𝑁𝑦 = 𝐶 0
(𝐸𝑦𝑦 + 𝜈𝐸𝑥𝑥0
), (19b)
𝑁𝑥𝑦 = 𝐶(1 − 0
𝜈)𝐸𝑥𝑦 . (19c)

Inverting the relations (19a), (19b), and (19c), we have

1
0
𝐸𝑥𝑥 = (𝑁𝑥 − 𝜈𝑁𝑦 ) , (20a)
𝐸ℎ
1
0
𝐸𝑦𝑦 = (𝑁𝑦 − 𝜈𝑁𝑥 ) , (20b)
𝐸ℎ
(1 + 𝜈)
0
𝐸𝑥𝑦 = 𝑁𝑥𝑦 . (20c)
𝐸ℎ

Substituting these expressions of 𝐸𝑥𝑥

0
, 𝐸𝑦𝑦
0
, and 𝐸𝑥𝑦
0
in (14), we have
2
1 𝜕 2 𝑁𝑥 𝜕 2𝑁 𝑦 𝜕 2𝑁 𝑦 𝜕 2 𝑁𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑁𝑥𝑦 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
− 𝜈 + − 𝜈 − 2(1 + 𝜈) = − .
𝐸ℎ [ 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ] ( 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Finally, using the relations from Eqs (15a), (15b), and (15c), we have

2
𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤 𝜕 2𝑤
4
∇ 𝐹 = 𝐸ℎ − 2 . (21)
[( 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ) 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 ]

This equation is the second of the Föppl-von Karman equations.