An innovative series solution for dynamic response of rectangular Mindlin plate on two-parameter elastic foundation, with general boundary conditions (Q2035253)

In this paper, a new analytical approach is presented in order to investigate free vibration and buckling analysis of Mindlin rectangular plates with general boundary conditions resting on Winkler-Pasternak foundations. Evidently, the method introduced by \textit{W. L. Li} et al. [``An exact series solution for the transverse vibration of rectangular plates with general elastic boundary supports'', J. Sound Vib. 321, No. 1--2, 254--269 (2009; \url{doi:10.1016/j.jsv.2008.09.035})] is extended to a Mindlin plate, establishing three sets of Fourier sine and cosine series accompanied with auxiliary functions, pertaining to the fundamental variables in Mindlin plate theory, namely deflection, rotation about \(x\)-axis and rotation about \(y\)-axis. However, since in Kirchhoff theory there is only one independent function (the deflection function), just one series expression is required such as the one used by Li et al. [loc. cit.]. The boundary conditions in this research are elastic constraints which are modeled by translational and rotational springs. Therefore, all possible edge conditions including classical ones can be addressed. Moreover, this paper presents the responses of plates lying on two-parameter foundations with arbitrary stiffness functions. The proposed method incorporates general elastic supports for all plate edges, and subsequently can deal with all possible boundary conditions including classical ones as well as uniform or non-uniform elastic constraints. The natural frequencies and buckling loads in several examples are determined to merely show the accuracy of the presented approach. A large amount of data has been generated which can be of use to design engineers.