SHEAR AND ATTACHMENT EFFECTS ON THE BEHAVIOR OF RECTANGULAR-PLATES RESTING ON TENSIONLESS ELASTIC-FOUNDATION

The behaviour of flexible plates of rectangular shapes supported on te nsionless elastic foundation is analysed using FEM techniques, Transve rse shear deformations have been included which significantly improve the calculations for plate central deformations and stress-resultants over the calculations made using thin plate theory. A nine-noded Mindl in element has been adopted for modelling the plate to account for tra nsverse shear effects, The tensionless character of the foundation is incorporated by using a binary multiplier (0/1) for uncorrelated found ation spring stiffness depending upon the displacement of the spring. A dimensionless quantity K, which relates the stiffness characteristic s of the foundation and plate, is introduced. Effects of realistic des ign parameters (e.g. edge boundary conditions, plate thickness and att achment) have been studied considering thick plate behaviour, and obse rvations have been made regarding governing design parameters while co mparing with the existing thin plate analysts method. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ltd.