Flexible plate and foundation modelling. (Q5930744)

The author studies mathematical models for a moving load on a continuously supported flexible plate. The viscoelasticity is included in order to model a floating ice plate. The small deflection \(\eta(x,y,t)\) of a thin viscoelastic plate of thickness \(h\) and density \(\rho_0\) due to a forcing function \(f(x,y,t)\) representing a moving load, is NEWLINE\[NEWLINED\nabla^4\left(\eta(x,y,t)-\int_0^\infty \Psi(\tau)\eta(x,y,t-\tau)d\tau \right)+\rho_0 h\eta_{tt} = p-f(x,y,t),NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(\Psi(t)\) is the memory function, \(p\) the underlying pressure at \(z=0\) due to the reaction of the foundation, and \(D\) is the effective flexural rigidity of the plate. The simplest possible memory function \(\Psi(t)=A_0e^{-\alpha_0t}\) is considered.NEWLINENEWLINETwo models are analyzed. Firstly, a floating viscoelastic plate in the case where the underlying medium is water of finite depth \(H\). Further, an elastic plate or beam on a Winkler foundation with the underlying pressure \(p=-\gamma \eta,\) where \(\gamma\) is a constant. Fourier integral representation of the deflection \(\eta\) is used in the analyis of the underlying models.