On a uniformly-valid asymptotic plate theory

Abstract

A uniformly-valid plate theory, independent of the magnitudes of applied loads, is derived based on the two-dimensional plate theory obtained from series expansions about the bottom surface of a plate. For five different magnitudes of surface loads, it is shown by using asymptotic expansions that this unified plate theory recovers five well-known plate models in the literature to leading-order. This demonstrates its uniform validity. More generally, it provides a uniformly-valid plate model provided that two asymptotic conditions are satisfied, which can be checked as a posteriori. The weak formulation of the uniformly-valid plate equations is furnished, which can be used for finite element implementation.