Abstract
Bending analysis of rectangular plates is proposed using a combination of basic functions and finite difference energy technique. The basic function satisfying the boundary conditions along the two opposite edges of the plate is substituted in the integral expression for the total potential energy of the plate thereby reducing a two dimensional functional into an unidirectional one. The discretized form of the total potential energy of the plate expressed as a functional of the displacement field is obtained by replacing the derivatives by the corresponding difference quotient. Using the principle of minimum potential energy a set of algebraic equations is obtained which is subsequently solved for unknown displacements. Examples have been presented for a variety of isotropic and orthotropic plates of rectangular plan-form with different edge conditions and loadings. Results have been compared with other numerical results and available analytical solutions.
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