THE APPLICATION OF A NEW FINITE STRIP TO THE FREE-VIBRATION OF RECTANGULAR-PLATES OF VARYING COMPLEXITY

A new finite strip method is applied to the vibration of rectangular plates with complicated boundary and internal support conditions. Based on the classical thin plate theory and displacement formulation, the new finite strip element is conforming with C-1-continuity. The displacement function of the strip element is expressed as the product of cubic Hermitian functions in the transverse direction and a set of computed static modes in the longitudinal direction. By means of a continuous beam computer program, these longitudinal modes can be computed a priori. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the versatility, accuracy and efficiency of the element.