DIFFERENTIAL QUADRATURE AND RAYLEIGH–RITZ METHODS TO DETERMINE THE FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCIES OF SIMPLY SUPPORTED RECTANGULAR PLATES WITH LINEARLY VARYING THICKNESS

Abstract In this paper, differential quadrature and Rayleigh–Ritz methods are presented for computation of the fundamental frequency of simply supported, homogeneous, isotropic, thin rectangular plates with the thickness tapering linearly in one direction. The complete analytical formulation and solution procedure is presented for both methods. Results obtained by these two methods are compared with available results in the literature and by the finite element method. Effects of the level of discretization, aspect and taper ratios are also presented.