A boundary element method for dynamic plate bending problems

In this paper the fundamental solution for Kirchhoff plate in the Laplace t ransform domain is deduced and the boundary element formulation is establis hed to study plate bending problem. By use of the moment integral equation, the dual boundary element equation is developed to solve the cracked plate problem subjected to dynamic loads. Durbin's Laplace transform inversion m ethod is used and the dynamic stress intensity factors are determined by eq uivalent stress technique. An infinite plate containing an isolated crack o r two cracks, or one set of parallel cracks under Heaviside load on the cra ck surfaces is studied. The numerical results obtained demonstrate the effi ciency and accuracy of the proposed formulation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.