MODELING OF DYNAMIC NETWORKS OF THIN ELASTIC PLATES

The purpose of this paper is to derive junction conditions for network s of thin elastic plates and to analyse the dynamic equations of such networks. Junction conditions for networks of Kirchhoff plates and net works of Reissner-Mindlin plates are derived based on geometric consid erations of the deformation at a junction. It is proved that the dynam ic system which describes the Reissner-Mindlin network is well-posed i s an appropriate energy space. It is further established that the Kirc hhoff network is obtained in the limit of the Reissner-Mindlin network as the shear moduli go to infinity.