Comparative accuracy of DQ and HDQ methods for three-dimensional vibrationanalysis of rectangular plates

An accuracy study between the Differential Quadrature (DQ) and Harmonic Dif ferential Quadrature (HDQ) methods for three-dimensional elasticity solutio ns of free vibration of rectangular plates is carried out. The solution cap ability of the DQ and HDQ methods is first studied. Then the numerical perf ormance of both the methods is compared. It is found that the DQ method dis plays more superior convergence characteristics over the HDQ method for the lower modes of vibration. However, the HDQ method is advantageous over the DQ method for computing higher modes of vibration. It is also discovered t hat the DQ and HDQ methods produce better convergent solutions than the Fin ite Element Method (FEM) when a similar number of discrete points/nodes are used. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.