19 - Lateral deflections of circular plates

Abstract

This chapter examines three classes of plate problem—namely, small deflections of plates, large deflections of plates, and very thick plates. To obtain the necessary number of simultaneous equations to determine the arbitrary constants, it will be necessary to consider boundary considerations. If the maximum deflection of a plate exceeds half the plate thickness, the plate changes to a shallow shell and withstands much of the lateral load as a membrane, rather than as a flexural structure. The power series solution, which involves the use of data sheets, is based on a power series solution of the fundamental equations governing the large deflection theory of circular plates. If a plate is very thick so that membrane effects are insignificant, it is possible that shear deflections can become important.