Rectangular Plates on Unilateral Edge Supports: Part 1—Theory and Numerical Analysis

Abstract

The corners of a simply supported, laterally loaded rectangular plate must be anchored to prevent them from lifting off the supports. If no such anchors are provided, and the supports are unilateral or capable of exerting forces in one direction only, parts of the plate will bend away from the supports upon loading. The loss of contact when uplift of laterally loaded rectangular plates is not prevented is examined in this paper. Arbitrary centrally symmetric loading is considered. Finite integral transforms convert the coupled dual-series equations that result from the Levy-Nadai approach to two coupled singular integral equations. Different solution methods are applicable for sagged and unsagged supports; these two numerical approaches are discussed in detail.