Influence Surface Coefficients of Plates Resting on Pasternak Foundation

Abstract

In this study, internal force influence surface coefficients of plates resting on Pasternak foundation are obtained using the finite element method applying the classical Müller-Breslau Principle. The two-parameter elastic foundation is represented by the inclusion of the elastic bedding and shear parameter matrix terms of a 4-noded soil finite element to the corresponding stiffness matrix terms of the plate finite element used in the implementation. The loading matrices used to determine the influence surfaces directly are derived from the governing equations and the element matrices which are obtained using the Betti’s law. Internal force influence surface coefficients of plates with and without elastic foundation are given comparatively through numerical examples, confirming the values with another approach and the literature.