VIBRATION OF RECTANGULAR MINDLIN PLATES WITH INTERMEDIATE STIFFENERS

A first known investigation into the vibratory characteristics of rect angular Mindlin plates with intermediate stiffeners is presented. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is used, with displacement and rotational functio ns assumed in the form of mathematically complete algebraic polynomial s. Sets of numerical frequency parameters for rectangular plates of va rious boundary conditions, thicknesses and plate dimensions are presen ted. In the study, the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia on the vibrational response of the plate structures are investigated. The influence of torsional rigidity and geometric properties of stiff eners on the natural frequency parameters are included. To validate th e proposed formulation, numerical results for some simplified problems have been determined where existing literature for these problems can be found. Finally sets of new vibration frequencies for plates with o ne or more stiffeners in various directions are presented.