Free Vibration of Thin Circular Plates Resting on an Elastic Foundation with a Variable Modulus

Abstract

An exact solution is established pertaining to the problem of undamped free vibration of a thin circular plate resting on a Winkler foundation with variable subgrade modulus. The solution is performed by applying the infinite power series method. Moreover, the solution procedure is demonstrated through an illustrative example, wherein the general frequency equation is derived for two different boundary conditions. The correctness of the solution is also verified using results available in the literature. Finally, it is shown that the proposed method of solution is directly applicable to the more-general problem of circular plates on a variable-modulus Pasternak-type foundation.