An efficient dynamic modeling method for Reissner–Mindlin plates: a Projection Equation approach

Abstract

The Projection Equation has proved itself to be an excellent approach to deriving the equations of motion for elastic multi-body mechanical systems. We use this method to obtain a dynamic model for Reissner–Mindlin plates. Unlike classical modeling methods, which use Hamilton’s principle to derive the equations of motion, the Projection Equation offers a much more general and more easily handled methodology. Given a short introduction to this approach, deriving the dynamic model of the plate is straightforward, and elimination of the shear effects, which leads to Kirchhoff’s classical plate theory, is easy. Our results are equivalent to other dynamic equations described in the literature.