Formulation and validation of dynamical models for narrow plate motion

Abstract We propose a narrow plate model of elastic structures of intermediate nature between beams and plates. From geometric assumptions that are consistent with the Mindlin-Timoshenko model of the motion of a plate, equations of motion are derived from the energy expression of the Mindlin-Timoshenko model. It is also noted that the model under consideration generalizes better known beam models. We present a validation of the narrow plate model by matching observed natural frequencies from experiment with those predicted with the associated eigenvalue problems. In addition, for the purpose of validation, we consider a simple inverse problem to recover parameters from observed natural frequencies.