VIBRATION OF LAMINATED PLATES HAVING ELASTIC EDGE FLEXIBILITIES

The first known investigation on the problem of free vibration of symm etric cross-ply laminated plates having elastically restrained edges i s considered. The Ritz method is used in combination with a variationa l formulation and a first-order transverse shear deformation theory. T he Ritz functions consist of polynomials that include a ''basic functi on'' that imposes the free edge boundary conditions. The elastic edge flexibilities are considered by both the linear elastic rotational and translational supports to act simultaneously. Numerical results are o btained to investigate the effects of elastic restraint stiffness, mat erial properties, and geometric parameters upon the natural frequencie s of flexural vibration.