Elementary Theory of Elastic Plates deals with plate theory, particularly on the elastic behavior of initially flat thin plates subjected to loads, producing deflexions. This book discusses rectangular plates and circular plates subjected to different types of load conditions. This text describes the bending moment and curvature of beams, and gives the formula of principal axes, where the location of a neutral axis that experiences zero stress and strain, can be found. This book also notes how calculations can show small or negligible deflexions. The text discusses Possion's ratio effect and the Mohr's circle relationship. This text analyzes the various loads acting on different parts of the rectangular plate using the Navier method; the Levy's method is taken up when considerations are on other forms of boundary support on the rectangular plate. This book then addresses the circular plate that experiences bending moments and curvatures when it is placed under radially symmetric loads. This text explains the equation that is applicable in a radially symmetric case. This book also addresses understanding approximations of energy in stability problems when there is bending and twisting as shown in a strut with a certain thickness, radial length of the arms, and length of the strut. Engineers, physicists, architects, and designers of industrial equipment subject to heavy loads will appreciate the information found in this book.

The present monograph deals with refined theories of elastic plates in which both bending and transverse shear effects are taken into account and with some of their applications. Generally these more exact theories result in inte gration problems of the sixth order; consequently, three mutually independent boundary conditions at each edge of the plate are required. This is in perfect agreement with the conclusions of the theory of elasticity. The expressions for shearing forces following from refined theories are then valid for the whole investigated region including its boundary where the corresponding boundary conditions for these shearing forces can be prescribed. Quite different seems to be the situation in the classical Kirchhoff-Love's theory in which the influence of transverse shearing strains is neglected. Owing to this simplification the governing differential equation developed by the classical theory is of the fourth order only; consequently, the number of boundary conditions appurtenant to the applied mode of support appears now to be in disagreement with the order of the valid governing equation. Then, limiting the validity of the expressions for shearing forces to the open region of the middle plane and introducing the notion of the so called fictitious Kirchhoff's shearing forces for the boundary of the plate, three actual boundary conditions at each edge of the plate have to be replaced by two approximate conditions transformed in the Kirchhoff's sense.

This book by the late R D Mindlin is destined to become a classic introduction to the mathematical aspects of two-dimensional theories of elastic plates. It systematically derives the two-dimensional theories of anisotropic elastic plates from the variational formulation of the three-dimensional theory of elasticity by power series expansions. The uniqueness of two-dimensional problems is also examined from the variational viewpoint. The accuracy of the two-dimensional equations is judged by comparing the dispersion relations of the waves that the two-dimensional theories can describe with prediction from the three-dimensional theory. Discussing mainly high-frequency dynamic problems, it is also useful in traditional applications in structural engineering as well as provides the theoretical foundation for acoustic wave devices.