Plates in Unilateral Contact With Simple Supports: Pressure Loading

Abstract

The response of a square plate, simply and unilaterally supported, to pressure loading is numerically treated. The support system consists of discrete elastic springs whose stiffnesses range from near-rigid to compliant character. It is found that, except for rather low support stiffnesses, the plate will lift off the foundation. After demonstrating good agreement with a recent analytical work, the deflections and shear fields are provided. The response mode changes dramatically as the supports approach rigidity.