Int. J. Mech. Sef. PergamonPress Ltd. 1963. Vol. 5, pp. 425-438.

Printed in Great Britain

LARGE A M P L I T U D E F L E X U R A L V I B R A T I O N
OF R E C T A N G U L A R PLATES
THErN W A H
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
(Received 31 M a y 1963)

S u m m a r y - - B y using an approximate formulation due to Berger it is shown t h a t t h e

v i b r a t i o n of rectangular plates with large amplitudes m a y be treated in a simple and unified
manner. Numerical results are given for various boundary conditions.
NOTATION
a, b
C

D
E
h
N
N~, N~
P
x, y
t

length of sides of plate

amplitude
Eh a

flexural rigidity of plate

12(1 -vZ) '
modulus of elasticity of plate
thickness of plate

(N~ + N,)/(1 + v)
stress resultants in the x and y directions, respectively
~-~

, natural circular frequency of plate

rectangular cartesian co-ordinates

time

lateral deflexion of plate

P mass per unit a r e a of plate
' 0,?
V4 (V2)~ = biharmonie operator -- \~--~x
~+ ~ ]
W

Poisson's ratio
function of time
integrals defined in Appendix A

h
-/

-t

bending stresses in the x and y directions

membrane stresses in the x and y directions
nondimensional bending stresses
nondimensional membrane stresses
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N

THE vibration of plates when the amplitude is large is governed by coupled

nonlinear differential equations as shown by Herrmann 1. The general solution
of these equations is unknown, but first approximations to the solutions have
been obtained by Chu and Herrmann 2 and Yamaki 3. B y using a perturbation
method Chu and Herrmann obtained a solution for a plate simply supported
on all edges. Yamaki used a Galerkin approach and obtained solutions for
rectangular plates simply supported on all edges and clamped on all edges. His
solution coincides with that of Ref. 2 for the simply supported case.
425

426

THEII~ WAR

I n 1955 B e r g e r 4 d e r i v e d a simplified set o f e q u a t i o n s d e s c r i b i n g t h e large

deflexion o f plates. H e s o l v e d s e v e r a l s t a t i c p r o b l e m s a n d c o n c l u d e d t h a t his
simplified t h e o r y g a v e results in s u b s t a n t i a l a g r e e m e n t w i t h m o r e e l a b o r a t e
theories.
I t is n a t u r a l t o i n q u i r e w h e t h e r t h e B e r g e r e q u a t i o n s c a n be e x t e n d e d to
t h e d y n a m i c case. This p a p e r is a n a t t e m p t t o a n s w e r this question. N a s h a n d
M o d e e r ~ h a v e e x t e n d e d t h e B e r g e r e q u a t i o n s t o t h e d y n a m i c case b y a d d i n g
t h e t r a n s v e r s e i n e r t i a t e r m a n d o b t a i n e d results c o m p a r a b l e t o t h o s e o f C h u
a n d H e r r m a n n 2 f o r a p l a t e s i m p l y s u p p o r t e d o n all edges. I n t h e p r e s e n t p a p e r
t h e w r i t e r h a s u s e d a d e v i c e w h i c h simplifies t h e d e t a i l e d c a l c u l a t i o n s considerably by eliminating the in-plane displacements u and v at the outset from the
equations. The resulting equations have a family resemblance to the theory of
large a m p l i t u d e v i b r a t i o n o f b e a m s . A unified t r e a t m e n t for s e v e r a l t y p e s o f
b o u n d a r y c o n d i t i o n s t h u s b e c o m e s possible. D e t a i l e d n u m e r i c a l solutions are
g i v e n for t h r e e t y p e s o f b o u n d a r y c o n d i t i o n s . T h e results for t h e s i m p l y
s u p p o r t e d case are c o m p a r e d w i t h p r e v i o u s solutions.
2. E Q U A T I O N S

OF MOTION

When the transverse inertia term is added, the Berger equations may be written in the
equivalent form

NV2w_I...P 02w

V w--~

~~t- = 0

(1)

with

Nh,

12D

~,, 1 ~ ,

ax ~ - ~ 2

ltaw],

(1-V)(N,+N,)

(2)

in which w is the lateral deflexion, u and v the displacements in the x and y directions,
D = Eh8/12(1-v ~) the flexural rigidity, h the thickness of the plate, p its mass per unit
area, E is Young's modulus, u is Poisson's ratio and N~ and Ny the stress resultants in the
x and y directions.
In the Berger formulation N is independent of x and y. One may thus multiply
equation (2) by dx dy and integrate over the plate to find

Nh2ab

ff

ov

l ff {(ow

aw

where a and b are the lenggb_s of the sides of the plate in the x and y directions, respectively.
I f now one imposes the condition that u and v vanish at the boundaries parallel to the
y and x axis respectively, the above reduces to

Nh~'ab
1 ,,,,
,
12D = 5 J J ( \ ~ x !

,[Ow\'l
- - , dxdy
\~y/ J

(3)

Integrating the right-hand side "by parts", equation (3) may be written

Nh~'ab
l ~3w
:~=at
1 ['~w
120 - 2 _ ~ x w . . . . d y + ~ J ~ w

v=a.
1 r~
~ , ~ b d x - ~ j J ( w V a w ) dxdy

where x = a~, a t and y = b~, ba represent the boundaries of the plate. Thus if the edges
are either simply supported or clamped, equation (3) m a y be written in the alternative form
12D = --

(wV2w) d x d y

(4)

The problem now reduces to the integration of equation (1) subject to the condition of
equation (3) or (4).

Large amplitude flexural vibration of rectangular plates

427

I f it is recalled ~ t h a t the equation for the large amplitude transverse vibration of a

strip of unit width has the form
E h s ~4 w

~y,

12

+ cT' w

~2 w

.~-~y~ + p - ~

= o

with
h---E = 2 J o \ - ~ ! d y

)
"~

(5)

where b is the length of the strip, N is the axial tension, p its mass per unit length and h its
thickness, it is evident t h a t the simplified theory of plate vibrations as described b y
equations (1) and (3) is a simple two-dimensional extension of strip theory except for
Poisson effects.
An integration procedure will now be described which makes possible a unified treatm e n t of several types of b o u n d a r y conditions. While a fairly general procedure m a y be
developed involving the integration of a set of coupled nonlinear differential equations, it
is felt that, in view of the approximate nature of the basic formulation, a simpler solution
which would serve for engineering applications is preferable. This m a y readily be obtained
b y a modified Galerkin method using a one-term approximation.
Let
w = c(x, y) 0(t)
(6)
where c is an a r b i t r a r y constant having the same dimensions as w, (x, y) is a suitably
chosen function satisfying the b o u n d a r y conditions and 0(t) is an unspecified function of
time. W h e n the solution of the corresponding linear problem [that is, the problem with
the same b o u n d a r y conditions b u t with N = 0 in equation (1)] is available, t h e n (x, y)
should be taken as the fundamental mode of t h a t solution. When an exact solution of the
linear problem is not a t hand, an approximating function satisfying the b o u n d a r y
conditions m a y be used, although at the sacrifice of both simplicity and accuracy. An
exact solution of the linear problem is always possible when two opposite edges of the plate
are hinged, while the other two edges m a y have a r b i t r a r y b o u n d a r y conditions. Such
conditions will be assumed to exist in what follows.
I f (x, y) is the fundamental mode of the corresponding linear problem it follows t h a t

v' = ~2

(7)

where p is the fundamental frequency for the linear ease.

Insertion of equation (6) into equation (1) and use of equation (7) leads to
~

~+p,0--

0v, = 0

(8)

dot denoting time differentiation.

Multiplying equation (8) b y ~ d x d y and integrating over the area of the plate there
follows

(o)
Introduction of equation (6) into equation (4) yields
N
D --

1 2 c~ ~ O2 1~ f f
ab

(~bV2 4) d x d y

(10)

Substitution of equation (10) into equation (9) gives

_ ^
6XD
c+
+P+++a~-C~p~

Oa

= 0

(11)

428

THEI:N W A H

with

~f/E ~

v ff(cW)dxdy

(12)

O n i n t r o d u c i n g t h e n o n d i m e n s i o n a l t i m e defined b y
t

(13)

e q u a t i o n (11) a s s u m e s t h e f o r m
d20
c2
d~ z +/z 4 0 + 6 h-~)~03

= 0

(14)

with

/~4 _ P a ~ b2p~
T h e s o l u t i o n of e q u a t i o n (14) d e p e n d s o n t h e choice of i n i t i a l c o n d i t i o n s .
If

0=1}
dO
d-~ = 0

at ~ = 0

(15)

t h e s o l u t i o n is
0 = cn (~/m)

(16)

cn b e i n g t h e elliptic cosine w i t h
/

C2

cz

If

l/

11/2

,=o}

at

dO

ff4,~

c2

~ = 0

(17)

(18)

d~ = 1
t h e s o l u t i o n is
0 = 1 sd (o~/m)

(19)

T h e elliptic f u n c t i o n s c n a n d s d b o t h h a v e t h e s a m e real p e r i o d 4 K , t h e p e r i o d of
vibration being
4K
T*
(20)
C2
~1/2

w h e r e K is t h e c o m p l e t e elliptic i n t e g r a l of t h e first k i n d . T h e l i n e a r p e r i o d is
T = -/~2
-

(21)

2K

(22)

I t follows f r o m (20) a n d (21) t h a t

T*

L a r g e a m p l i t u d e flexural Vibration of r e c t a n g u l a r plates

429

I n t h e case of plates s i m p l y s u p p o r t e d a t x = 0 a n d x = a, a n ~act solution for t h e

corresponding linear p r o b l e m is readily o b t a i n e d irrespective of t]ae b o u n d a r y conditions
on t h e o t h e r t w o edges. T h e f u n d a m e n t a l n o n d i m e n s i o n a l f r e q u e n c y for all these cases
m a y be w r i t t e n
Iz2
^.a
2b

where f~ is, in general, a f u n c t i o n of a/b a n d t h e b o u n d a r y conditions on t h e edges parallel

to t h e x axis. A p p e n d i x e s A a n d B s u m m a r i z e p e r t i n e n t i n f o r m a t i o n for t h e t h r e e cases
considered here: (a) simply s u p p o r t e d a t y = 0 and y = b, (b) simply s u p p o r t e d at y = 0
a n d c l a m p e d at y = b a n d (c) c l a m p e d at y = _+b/2.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a plot of T * / T as a f u n c t i o n of c/h for various values of t h e aspect
ratio a/b.

,,\\,
~Chu- Herrmonn

',\ %
o/~0 ~ \

~-Ie-

Simply . ~'x\
SUl~Oortedstrip \

"~\~

0.6

s[ ~

0.5

,
s~-b _ _
%%%%%
%

0
0.4
0

i
Case (a)

I-0

2-0

C. omplitude

"Fi-~

F I o . 1.

3. S T R E S S E S
T h e bending stresses are g i v e n b y
M~

6D l0 ~ w

~ w~

M~

6D la ~ w

a 2 w/

Defining a nondimensional bending stress

5' = 2(1--v 2) a b o ,

Eh ~

430

THEINWAH

~'~ ~

~ly-supported- clamped

~la 0.7
SUp:oirr~:ldY
stri;~,,

O'6
C_

'~ \\\, \ ~

.o/b=oo

0.5

~_~
0.4
0

~.5.25

--

~o/b=O
Case (b)

I- o

2.0
thickness

Fro. 2.

0.9

tl u

HI--

Iompedstrip

0.8

supl~rte:1strip~%.
--~
....
'~
c
\\\
0.5 s ~ s ~ b

/bt3,0
~2"0
= co

O"6

~10

"',,
0.4

C ~ e (c)

~.~

I'0

j.75
.50

~250
b
2.0

~-~
Fro. 3.

C _ Qmplitude

431

Large amplitude flexural vibration of rectangular plates

one may derive the following formulas for these bending stresses:
Case (a)
c 2/b
a\
lrx
try ]
5; = + ~ [ a + . ~ ) sin a sin-~- 0

(24)
c

a;

+~.

~/a

b\

. ~rx . ~'y,,

[~+.a) SlnaS~Tc,

Case (b)
-' =
5~

sin ~ y} sin ~- 0
c

b - - ~ a] sinh a
~l/a
~b~ sin~ .

,~

b~

__+~ a I[~-- V~-~ a] ~

t
a

Ir ~

f3

(25)

. ~rx

slnh ~ y-{-(v~ ab+fl2a2 b)sin-/~Y} am a 0

Case (e)

_,

cosm2

-~

"

"

cos~

~_/(a_,~' b, oos~/2
~
~,
a' a ) ~ C S h b Y + ( ~ - b + f ~ ' b ) C s ~ ya'} s i n ~ O a

(26)

_+a'h[\b

a,

Fig. 4 shows a plot of 5~ and 5~ at the centre of a square plate, as a function c/h, for
various boundary conditions.

40

35

/
--/
Q'y

V
.-...--Case (a)

,o///
15

v -0.3

0"5

I'0

1"5

_C: omp~Hude
h

tl~ckness

Fro. 4.

2"0

THEIN W A H

432
The membrane

stresses are given by

N~

H --

a=

tt _

If one defines nondimensional

membrane

stresses

_,,

2(1-v)

a2 ~

a~

-~ az

_,,

2(1-~)

b* ,,

a, then

_,,

as ~

a~+~,]

A~Ty

(27)

~a,

2(1 --v) a s

cs a

h~(~+~)

=-E~v

b y e q u a t i o n s (2) a n d (10).
F i g s . 5, 6 a n d 7 s h o w a p l o t o f [5~ + (a2/bs) 5~] a s a f u n c t i o n o f
I t will b e n o t e d t h a t a t t h e b o u n d a r i e s p a r a l l e l t o t h e y a x i s
6s
a~+~a~

(2s)

c/h w i t h a/b a s

a parameter.

= ax

and at the boundaries parallel to the x axis

a s

~+~,

60

-#

b =3-'--~/

/J

50

4O
b
+

a s

= ~,,

3o

eJ
o[..c

}
2O

o-s
Case (a)

I.o

J.s

2-0

_c
h

F i e . 5.

T h u s t h e m e m b r a n e s t r e s s e s a~ a n d a~ a r e d e f i n e d a t t h e b o u n d a r i e s . I n t h e p a r t i c u l a r
c a s e o f a s q u a r e p l a t e s i m p l y s u p p o r t e d o n all e d g e s t h e m e m b r a n e s t r e s s e s a r e d e f i n e d a t
the centre also, For the general case, however, this theory yields only the sum of the
membrane stresses at an arbitrarily chosen location.

Large amplitude flexural vibration of rectangular plates

70'

j~=3
60

50
4O

b4-

20

~,75
f"5

fO

0.5

Case(b)

I-0

1.5

-~

2~0

FIG. 6.
70

6O

50

-2

./-75
~1/"5

~ 40

o.s
Case(c)

I.o

_c
h

FIG. 9.

I.s

z.o

433

434

TH~I~ WAH

I n Fig. 7 it m a y be noticed t h a t t h e curve for a/b = 0.25 falls below the curve for
a/b = 0. This discrepancy is p r o b a b l y t h e result of a p p r o x i m a t i o n s in the numerical work.
I t will be n o t e d t h a t in Figs. 1, 2 a n d 3 are also shown t h e results for the nonlinear
v i b r a t i o n of strips as described b y equations (5). The calculations for these cases are
similar to those for plates and are outlined below.
Let
w = cf(y) O(t)
(29)
where c is the a m p l i t u d e a n d f ( y ) is the f u n d a m e n t a l m o d e of v i b r a t i o n of the strip w h e n
N = 0 in e q u a t i o n s (5). S u b s t i t u t i n g e q u a t i o n (29) into t h e first of equations (5) and using
the relation
~4f
12p -2 "
(30)
~y~ = ~ - ~ p J
there follows
(~f(y) + ,~2f(y) O - N f,,(y) 0 = 0
P
Multiplying b y f ( y ) d y a n d i n t e g r a t i n g f r o m 0 to b there results

fl

f~(y)dy+'fi2O

f2(y)dy---O
P

f"(y)f(y)dy

= O

(31)

F r o m the second of equations (5) one finds

2 hE fb

c ~2b Jo [ f (y)]

dy

I~f "f dy

= _ c202 hE

for a s u p p o r t e d beam.
S u b s t i t u t i o n into e q u a t i o n (31) results in
(~
~^ c 2 h E ~ ^ a
+i~ if+ 2--~-nAV = 0

(32)

where

~ = b fobf"(y)f(y)dy=-b ;[f"y)]2dy
$3= l f;f,(y) dy
Introducing

/E.
= ~,V 12p

into e q u a t i o n (35) there follows

d2 0 -t-fli O + 6~ c2 0a = 0
d~ ~'
h~

(33)

where
f14 = 1 2 b 4 p

Eh a

A s s u m i n g the initial conditions

o=:)

dO

at ~ = 0

t h e solution of e q u a t i o n (33) is
O = cn ( ~ I ~ )

(34)

Large amplitude flexural v i b r a t i o n of rectangular plates

435

with

(35)
C2

I t is seen t h a t these expressions are v e r y similar to those derived for plates, equations
(17). I t m a y be shown t h a t the modal functions,f (y), are the coefficients of sin rrx/a in the
functions ~(x, y) for the plates when b/a ~ O. I t turns out, however, t h a t in equations (35)
fl-~=

2Lt

--

bl a.--~ O ~.L4

(36)

Consequently one must conclude t h a t as the aspect ratio a/b of the plate becomes very
large, its behaviour does not approach t h a t of the strip. This rather surprising result has also
been observed b y Chu and Herrmann% I t seems likely t h a t this apparent discrepancy is
due to the nonlinearity of the equations rather t h a n an approximation error.
The only case t h a t can be compared to previous solutions is case (a) as shown in Fig. 1.
I t is seen t h a t the present solution is reasonably close to t h a t of Chu and Herrmann.
However, a somewhat disturbing discrepancy is t h a t while the C h u - H e r r m a n n solution is
aspect ratio dependent, the present solution is not. I t is necessary to recall, nevertheless,
t h a t the C h u - H e r r m a u n method is also an approximate solution. Although their basic
formulation is more accurate, the development of their solution involves assumptions
regarding the form of the displacement functions u and v and therefore must introduce
errors which are absent in the present formulation. Furthermore, the solution here /8
aspect ratio dependent for b o u n d a r y conditions other t h a n those of simple support on
all edges. There are also physical reasons for supposing t h a t the true solution m a y indeed
be aspect ratio independent for simple support on all sides. Consider, for example case (b)
where x = 0, x = a and y -----0 are simply supported and y = b is clamped. On the basis of
purely physical reasoning one would suppose t h a t as a/b ~ O, the solution would approach
t h a t of the simply supported strip and as a/b -+ ~ it would approach t h a t of the simply
supported-clamped strip. Fig. 2 shows t h a t this reasoning is qualitatively verified,
discounting the overall "shift" in the solution for the plate in relation to t h a t of the strip.
Similar remarks a p p l y to case (e) and Fig. 3. Reasoning in a similar manner, one can
conclude t h a t in the case of a plate hinged on all edges, the limiting solutions for a/b = 0
and a/b = oo must both approach t h a t of the simply supported strip. This can only mean
t h a t t h e y m u s t coincide and the solution should be aspect ratio independent. This is
exactly what happens in the present solution b u t not in the C h u - H e r r m a n n theory. This
argument, while not conclusive, establishes the plausibility of the solution given in this
paper.
CONCLUSIONS
It appears a reasonable conclusion that the approach presented in this paper
is l i k e l y t o y i e l d r e s u l t s e n t i r e l y a d e q u a t e f o r m a n y e n g i n e e r i n g p u r p o s e s .
B e c a u s e o f t h e r e l a t i v e s i m p l i c i t y o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l e q u a t i o n s , i t is e v e n
possible to attempt a solution of the problem of forced vibration of nonlinear
p l a t e s . I t is c o n v e n i e n t t o t h i n k o f N i n e q u a t i o n (1) a s a " m e m b r a n e t e n s i o n "
in analogy with the corresponding beam theory. If the physically plausible
a s s u m p t i o n is m a d e t h a t t h i s t e n s i o n d o e s n o t f l u c t u a t e v e r y r a p i d l y , t h e n o n e
may assume that it remains constant over suitably chosen intervals of time. If
N is c o n s t a n t , e q u a t i o n (1) is l i n e a r . O n e m a y t h u s a p p r o x i m a t e t h e t r u e
solution by a series of linear problems in time.
As an example consider the equation
-~N
V4w-l)V
2W+

p ~2w _ f(x,y,t)
D ~t ~
D

(37)

436

THEIN WAH

where f ( x , y, t) is an a r b i t r a r y specified function. I f one assumes t h a t N varies

slowly it can be replaced b y some value N which is supposed c o n s t a n t over a
suitably chosen interval A. E q u a t i o n (37) is t h e n linear and m a y be solved,
say, b y the n o r m a l mode procedure. T h e displacement and velocities at the
end of the time interval A are t h e n m a d e the initial conditions for the succeeding
time interval. The new value of 57 m a y be o b t a i n e d b y substituting the solution
at t h e end o f the interval A into e q u a t i o n (4). The process is t h e n repeated.
A d m i t t e d l y t h e p r o c e d u r e is a tedious one e x c e p t perhaps for simply s u p p o r t e d
plates where the n o r m a l modes are i n d e p e n d e n t of the value of N. H o w e v e r ,
it would be successful in yielding b o t h the transients a n d the s t e a d y state
solutions, which, as far as the writer is aware, is not generally possible b y o t h e r
methods.
Finally, the investigation has been confined to w h a t m a y be t e r m e d the
f u n d a m e n t a l m o d e of v i b r a t i o n of the plate. F o r if Rosenberg's t h e o r y ~ is
e x t e n d e d to continuous systems one m u s t a d m i t the possibility of an infinity of
modes of v i b r a t i o n and corresponding frequencies in the nonlinear case also.
Acknowledgement---The writer is indebted to Miss Barbara Pape for much of the numerical
work.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

REFERENCES
G. H~.RRMA~, N A C A T N , 3578 (1955).
Hu-NAN CHU and G. H~.RR~NN, J. Appl. Mech. 23, 532 (1956).
N. YAMAKI, Z A M M , Berlin 4!, 501 (1961).
I-I. M. BE~GE~, J. Appl. Mech. 22, 465 (1955).
W. A. NASH and J. R. MODEER, Proceedings of the Sym/posium on the Theory of Thin
Elastic Shells, Delft, August 1959. Interscience, New York {1960).
R. M. ROSENBERG,J. Appl. Mech. 29E, 7 (1962).

APPENDIX

Summary of Formulas
Case (a)

~y

~x

(x, y) -- sm ~-- sin a

fl = rr
= 4 \a
41b

b]

a\ ~

I<

)]

--X

437

Large a m p l i t u d e flexural v i b r a t i o n of r e c t a n g u l a r plates

Case (b)
,
O~y I sin f~ y) sin ?
(x, y) = [~ sin f ~ .stun
Y

b2

F r e q u e n c y equation :
t a n f~ _
tanh a
~

l(

sinflcosfl

7r2bll

sin~f~

S
a

X
)l

sin~f~ I

a ~a fl~ 38sinfl cos#

+~-~b
1 {1
~' = 4 .

~,,

sinflcosf~
fl

COS
(x, y) - - - / - - /

\cosn. 5

~
f~
eosh z y - cos z y
o

sin2fl l

sin2fl
sin2fl /
sinh
- - - i ~x -t-~ j

/^2 a

Case (e)

sin2fl

~--~-q~+ ~

2 b\ 2

. 7rx
sm - a

b2
s

s b/2

Frequency equation:

b/2
c

tan ~
I(

>I

t a n h -~
2

-~=

~,cosn

N o t e s : s = s i m p l y supported, c = c l a m p e d

438

TI-IEIN WAH
APPENDIX

Numerical Results
Case (b)

A
3.927
3.891
3-857
3-712
3.623
3.493
3.316
~

3
2
1
0.75
0.50
0.25
0

3.927
4-162
4.450
5.789
6.943
9.549
18.078
co

2.877*
9.491
6.728
4.891
4.923
5.783
9.993
2"467t

0.1393
0.1520
0-1554
0.1844
0.1996
0.2178
0.2357
0.2500

71

Case (c)
a

co
3
2
1
0.75
0.50
0.25
0

4.730
4.683
4.620
4.377
4.166
3.900
3.526
~

7b
a

4.730
4.909
5-126
6.232
7.239
9.704
18.118
~
7a
b

3-130"
10.00
7.127
4.911
4.731
5.431
9.468
2.467t

0.07692
0.08420
0.09235
0.1281
0.1516
0.1853
0.2213
0"2500

s b/2

b/2