Boundary element-linear complementary equation solution to polygonial unilaterally simply supported plates

This article describes a method for the bending analysis of simply supporte d plates allowing for lifting at corners. The boundary element-linear compl ementary equation method (BE-LCEM) is described and used to solve the under lying problem. Following numerical discretisation using the boundary integr al equation method for this contact problem, an effective linear complement ary equation (LCE) is then established with two complementary variables for each contact node. Complementary variables are taken as the normal contact force and boundary deflection of the plate. The resulting LCEs are solved by using mathematical programming. Details of the transformation are descri bed. A number of examples are presented for different shapes of plates to d emonstrate the effectiveness of the features as implemented. Results are co mpared of simply supported plates with corners allowing for acid restrained from lifting. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.