LARGE-AMPLITUDE VIBRATION OF PLATES ACCORDING TO A HIGHER-ORDER DEFORMATION-THEORY

Based on a higher older plate theory, non-linear partial differential equations for the vibrating motion of a plate are derived. By using th ese equations, the large amplitude vibration of a simply supported rec tangular plate is investigated. By neglecting the higher order terms a nd introducing the shear correction factor into the governing equation s, the present higher order plate theory can be reduced to the first o rder Mindlin plate theory. The Galerkin method is used to transform th e governing non-linear partial differential equations to ordinary non- linear differential equations. The Runge-Kutta method is used to obtai n the linear and non-linear frequencies. The linear (natural) frequenc y can be obtained by neglecting non-linear terms: i.e., the von Karman assumption is not considered. From comparing the present 11 variables higher order plate theory results with the five variables Mindlin pla te theory results, it can be concluded that the higher order shear def ormation terms have a significant influence on large vibration of plat es. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited.