• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 2023

Analytical solutions to problems are crucial because they provide high-quality comparison data for assessing the accuracy of numerical solutions. Benchmark analytical solutions for the vibrations of cracked functionally graded material (FGM) plates are not available in the literature because of the high level of complexity of such solutions. On the basis of first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT), this study proposes analytical series solutions for the vibrations of FGM rectangular plates with side or internal cracks parallel to an edge of the plates by using Fourier cosine series and the domain decomposition technique. The distributions of FGM properties along the thickness direction are assumed to follow a simple power law. The proposed analytical series solutions are validated by performing comprehensive convergence studies on the vibration frequencies of cracked square plates with various crack lengths and under various boundary condition combinations and by performing comparisons with published results based on various plate theories and the theory of three-dimensional elasticity. The results reveal that the proposed solutions are in excellent agreement with literature results obtained using the Ritz method on the basis of FSDT. The paper also presents tabulations of the first six nondimensional frequencies of cracked rectangular Al/Al2O3 FGM plates with various aspect ratios, thickness-to-width ratios, crack lengths, and FGM power law indices under six boundary condition combinations, the tabulated frequencies can serve as benchmark data for assessing the accuracy of numerical approaches based on FSDT.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.433-448
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• 2000

In this paper we deal with the numerical solution of the Reissner-Mindlin plate problem with the use of high order finite elements. In previous papers we have solved the problem using approximation spaces of Serendipity type, in order to minimize the number of internal degrees of freedom. Since further numerical experiences have evidenced that the addition of bubble functions improved the quality of the results we have modified the previous family of hierarchic finite elements, adding internal degrees of freedom, to make a systematic analysis of their performance. Of course, more degrees of freedom are introduced. Nonetheless the numerical results indicate that the reduction of the error outnumbers the increase of degrees of freedom and therefore bubble plus elements are preferable.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.169-176
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• 2002

This paper is concerned with development of an enhanced quadratic Mindlin plate bending element. The behavior of the proposed plate element is further improved by the coupled use of non-conforming displacement modes, the selectively reduced integration scheme, and the assumed shear strain fields. The improvement may be attributable to the fact that the merits of these improvement techniques are merged in the formation of the new element in a complementary manner. The proposed quadratic finite element passes the patch tests, does not show spurious mechanism, and does not produce shear locking phenomena even with distorted meshes. It is shown that the element produces reliable solutions through numerical tests for standard benchmark problems. It is also noted that the element is applicable to transient dynamic analysis of Mindlin plates.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.324-345
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• 2015

A new procedure for determining properties of thick plate finite elements, based on the modified Mindlin theory for moderately thick plate, is presented. Bending deflection is used as a potential function for the definition of total (bending and shear) deflection and angles of cross-section rotations. As a result of the introduced interdependence among displacements, the shear locking problem, present and solved in known finite element formulations, is avoided. Natural vibration analysis of rectangular plate, utilizing the proposed four-node quadrilateral finite element, shows higher accuracy than the sophisticated finite elements incorporated in some commercial software. In addition, the relation between thick and thin finite element properties is established, and compared with those in relevant literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.485-502
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• 2009

A new 8-node serendipity quadrilateral plate bending element (MQP8) based on the Mindlin-Reissner theory for the analysis of thin and moderately thick plate bending problems using Integrated Force Method is presented in this paper. The performance of this new element (MQP8) is studied for accuracy and convergence by analyzing many standard benchmark plate bending problems. This new element MQP8 performs excellent in both thin and moderately thick plate bending situations. And also this element is free from spurious/zero energy modes and free from shear locking problem.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.431-448
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• 2012

In this paper, the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) (Mindlin) for continuum incorporating surface energy is exploited to study the static behavior of ultra-thin functionally graded (FG) plates. The size-dependent mechanical response is very important while the plate thickness reduces to micro/nano scales. Bulk stresses on the surfaces are required to satisfy the surface balance conditions involving surface stresses. Unlike the classical continuum plate models, the bulk transverse normal stress is preserved here. By incorporating the surface energies into the principle of minimum potential energy, a series of continuum governing differential equations which include intrinsic length scales are derived. The modifications over the classical continuum stiffness are also obtained. To illustrate the application of the theory, simply supported micro/nano scaled rectangular films subjected to a transverse mechanical load are investigated. Numerical examples are presented to present the effects of surface energies on the behavior of functionally graded (FG) film, whose effective elastic moduli of its bulk material are represented by the simple power law. The proposed model is then used for a comparison between the continuum analysis of FG ultra-thin plates with and without incorporating surface effects. Also, the transverse shear strain effect is studied by a comparison between the FG plate behavior based on Kirchhoff and Mindlin assumptions. In our analysis the residual surface tension under unstrained conditions and the surface Lame constants are expected to be the same for the upper and lower surfaces of the FG plate. The proposed model is verified by previous work.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.325-341
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• 1999

A procedure for the computation of the load carrying capacity of perfectly plastic plates in bending is presented. The approach, based on the kinematic theorem of limit analysis, requires the evaluation of the minimum of a convex, but non-smooth, function under linear equality constraints. A systematic solution procedure is devised, which detects and eliminates the finite elements which are predicted as rigid in the collapse mechanism, thus reducing the problem to the search for the minimum of a smooth and essentially unconstrained function of nodal velocities. Both Kirchhoff and Mindlin plate models are considered. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated by means of some examples.

• Architectural research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

The stability and resistance of the plates under in-plane loading is crucial in the design of structures. For the assessment of structural stability, it is necessarily required to have accurate finite element technologies. Therefore, the enhanced 9-node plate (Q9-ANS) element is introduced for the linear buckling analysis of plate where the critical buckling load has to be determined. The Q9-ANS is developed with the Reissner-Mindlin (RM) assumptions which consider transverse shear deformation of the plate. Assumed shear strain is used to alleviate the shear locking phenomenon. Numerical examples are carried out to verify the performance of the Q9-ANS element in calculation of critical buckling load of the plates.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.623-628
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• 2004

In this study, the assumed-mode method using characteristic polynomials of Timoshenko beam is applied for the free vibration analysis of rectangular stiffened plates. The polynomial is derived considering the rotational constraint along the boundary edges of plate and the orthogonal relation of Timoshenko beam functions, which enables to simplify the free vibration analysis of plate structure having various boundary conditions. To verify the validity and effectiveness of the adopted method, numerical analysis for cross-stiffened plates were carried out and its results were compared with those obtained by the general purpose FEA software.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-86
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• 2007

A four-noded plate bending quadrilateral (PBQ4) and an eight-noded plate bending quadrilateral (PBQ8) element based on Mindlin plate theory have been adopted for modeling the thick plates on elastic foundations using Winkler model. Transverse shear deformations have been included, and the stiffness matrices of the plate elements and the Winkler foundation stiffness matrices are developed using Finite Element Method based on thick plate theory. A computer program is coded for this purpose. Various loading and boundary conditions are considered, and examples from the literature are solved for comparison. Shear locking problem in the PBQ4 element is observed for small value of subgrade reaction and plate thickness. It is noted that prevention of shear locking problem in the analysis of the thin plate is generally possible by using element PBQ8. It can be concluded that, the element PBQ8 is more effective and reliable than element PBQ4 for solving problems of thin and thick plates on elastic foundations.