Rectangular Plates

71

w in the form of Eq. (b) satises Eq. (3.43) and the boundary conditions (d) exactly. Using the relations (2.12) and Eq. (a), the boundary conditions (c) can be rewritten, as follows " !# ! @2 w @2 w  @2 w @2 w     2  Fn sin n y and  2  0: w 0jx0;a ; D  @x2 @y @x2 @y 
x 0 x a

e Substitution of Eqs (b) into (e) and solving the obtained equations for Cin , one obtains C1n 0; C2n Fn F F ; C n 1 coth2 n a n a; C4n n coth n a: 2D 3n 2D 2D f

Inserting the above into Eq. (f) yields the following:   1 X Fn sinh n x  x cosh  a x  a w sin n y: n n n sinh n a 2D 2 n sinh n a n 1

3:62

As it follows from the above, in order to obtain a particular solution for plates subjected to various types of load distribution px; y p0 f x it is necessary to determine the coefcients pm (see Eq. (3.53)). Table 3.2 furnishes the values of pm for various types of load distributions. 3.6 CONTINUOUS PLATES

When a uniform plate extends over a support and has more than one span along its length or width, it is termed continuous. Such plates are of considerable practical interest. Continuous plates are externally statically indeterminate members (note that a plate itself is also internally statically indeterminate). So, the well-known methods developed in structural mechanics can be used for the analysis of continuous plates. In this section, we consider the force method which is commonly used for the analysis of statically indeterminate systems. According to this method, the continuous plate is subdivided into individual, simple-span panels between intermediate supports by removing all redundant restraints. It can be established, for example, by introducing some ctitious hinges above the intermediate supports. In this way, the redundant moments acting along the intermediate supports are eliminated. Similar ctitious hinges can be used at the ends if those are xed. The simple-span panel obtained in such a way is referred to as a primary plate. In order to restore the rejected restraints, the unknown redundant moments are applied to the primary plate. These moments can be determined from the solution of simultaneous algebraic equations expressing the compatibility of the slopes between the adjoining panels produced by both external loads and unknown redundant moments. In our further discussion we assume that the supports are unyielding. For the sake of simplicity, we conne ourselves to a rectangular plate continuous in one direction only and having the same exural rigidity. Obviously, the general procedure of the force method discussed below can be applied to plates continuous in both directions.