Boundary element analysis of unilateral supported Reissner plates on elastic foundations. (Q5928312)

The bending of thick plates with free edges on unilateral elastic foundations is treated by boundary integral equation method supplemented with certain complementary equations. The normal contact force and the relative deflection between the plate and the subgrade are taken as complementary variables. Two types of elastic foundation (Winkler type and elastic half-space) are considered, and the deflection is described within the Reissner theory. In numerical examples, the contact and non-contact regions are studied.