Loss of Contact in the Vicinity of a Right-Angle Corner for a Simply Supported, Laterally Loaded Plate

Abstract

The solutions to problems of laterally loaded, simply supported rectangular plates are classical ones that can be found in standard textbooks. It is found that forces directed downward must be present to prevent the corners of the plate from rising up during bending. The objective of the present analysis is to determine the extent to which such a plate will rise if the corner force is not present and the plate is unilaterally constrained. Rather than determine the solution for a rectangular plate, we consider a laterally loaded, simply supported plate which occupies a quarter space region. The plate is unilaterally constrained and may rise at the corner due to an absence of restraining force there. Using integral transform techniques appropriate to the quarter space for elastic plates, the region of lost contact is determined for a general loading. The special loading due to a concentrated force is given as an example.