An exact theory of elastic plates (Q1110381)

An extension of recent analyses for the transverse motion of an elastic plate under a transverse load is given which shows that the problem of the loading of a thin plate is a singular perturbation one. Expressions are obtained for all the displacements and stress components in terms of the mid-plane transverse displacement, w, and its derivatives. It is shown that in some cases w is the solution of a standard biharmonic problem. Additionally it is shown how to derive other approximations such as those of Kirchhoff, Mindlin and Reissner avoiding internal inconsistencies and how they are related to the exact theory.