Shear and attachment effects on the behaviour of rectangular plates resting on tensionless elastic foundation

Abstract The behaviour of flexible plates of rectangular shapes supported on tensionless elastic foundation is analysed using FEM techniques. Transverse shear deformations have been included which significantly improve the calculations for plate central deformations and stress-resultants over the calculations made using thin plate theory. A nine-noded Mindlin element has been adopted for modelling the plate to account for transverse shear effects. The tensionless character of the foundation is incorporated by using a binary multiplier ( 0 1 ) for uncorrelated foundation spring stiffness depending upon the displacement of the spring. A dimensionless quantity K, which relates the stiffness characteristics of the foundation and plate, is introduced. Effects of realistic design parameters (e.g. edge boundary conditions, plate thickness and attachment) have been studied considering thick plate behaviour, and observations have been made regarding governing design parameters while comparing with the existing thin plate analysis method.