The bowed narrow plate model

The derivation of a narrow plate model that accommodates shearing, torsional, and bowing eects is presented. The resulting system has mathematical and computational advantages since it is in the form of a system of dierential equations depending on only one spatial variable. A validation of the model against frequency data observed in laboratory experiments is presented. The models may be easily combined to form more complicated structures that are hinged along all or portions of their junction boundaries or are coupled dierentiably as through the insertion of dowels between the narrow plates. Computational examples are presented to illustrate the types of deformations possible by coupling these models.