38

Chapter 2

We observe from Eqs (2.53) and (2.54) that the strain energy is a nonlinear (quadratic) function of deformations. Hence, the principle of superposition is therefore not valid for the strain energy. The expressions (2.53) and (2.54) are valid for plates of constant and variable thickness. It should be noted that the following integral 2 !2 3 2 2 2 @ w @ w @ w 4 5dA 2:56 @x@y @x2 @y2
A

entering in Eq (2.54) is equal to zero for xed supports and for simply supported edges of plates, whose contour is traced by straight lines. This statement can be easily proven by transforming the integral (2.56) over the plate surface into the line integral over the plate boundary [3]. The potential of external forces, , is dened as the work done by external forces through the corresponding displacements, assuming that these forces remain unchanged during the deformation. Further, when a positive displacement occurs,  decreases, so the potential of the external forces is always negative and may be evaluated as the product of these forces and the corresponding nal displacement components. Determine the potential, p , of the distributed load px; y and concentrated Pi and Mj forces and moments applied to the middle surface of the plate as follows: 2 3 X X Pi wi Mj # j 5 ; 2:57 p 4 px; ywdA
A i j

where wi and #j are the deection and the slope of the normal at the point of application of the ith force and j th moment in the plane of the action of this moment, respectively. In the expression (2.57) the potential of edge loads,  , is not included. These loads have potentials only if compatible boundary displacements are permitted. In such cases, the potentials of the edge moments mn ; mt and the transverse edge forces Vn can be expressed as   @w @w mnt  Vn w mn ds; 2:58 @n @t

where @w=@n and @w=@t are the derivatives of w with respect to the outward normal and the tangent directions, respectively, along the plate boundary to the boundary . The total potential of the external loads applied to the plate surface and to its boundary is  p  ; 2:59

where p and  are given by the expressions (2.57) and (2.58). Using expressions (2.50), (2.54), (2.57) and (2.58), we can write the total potential energy of the plate in bending in the Cartesian coordinates as follows