Engineering Fracture Mechanics

Printed in Great Britain.

Vol. 18, No. 6, pp. I1

I I-1118,

oow7944/83
Pergamon

1983

$3.00 + .oo
Press Ltd.

BENDING VIBRATION OF A SIMPLY

SUPPORTED RECTANGULAR
PLATE
WITH A CRACK PARALLEL TO ONE EDGE
ROMAN SOLECKI
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, U.S.A.
Abstract-Natural
flexural vibration of a simply supported rectangular plate with a symmetrically
located crack parallel to one edge is considered. The problem is analyzed by means of finite Fourier
transformation of discontinuous functions. The unknowns of the problem are the discontinuities
of the displacement and of the slope across the crack. The singularities of the moments at the tips
are built in the solution. The conditional equations are obtained by satisfying the boundary
conditions at the cracks edge. This requires differentiation of Fourier series representing a
discontinuous function. The characteristic equation in form of an infinite determinant is obtained.
Numerical data for certain geometries as well as comparison with existing results are included.

1. INTRODUCTION
a method is demonstrated for determining frequencies of steady-state vibration of
a rectangular, simply supported, isotropic plate with a crack located parallel to one edge,
symmetrically with respect to one symmetry axis (Fig. 1). The studies of bending and vibration
of finite cracked plates are limited to few papers. Bending of a cracked ractangular plate was first
investigated by Keer and Sve in[l]. Their analysis was limited to such location of the crack that
allowed reduction of the problem to a dual series equation. Hence the crack was confined to a
position along the symmetry axis. Analogous method was applied by Stahl and Keer [2] for analysis
of natural vibration and stability of rectangular plate and was bounded by similar limitations as
encountered in[ 11. In [3] Solecki attempted to remove existing restrictions by developing a method
that would allow to study rectangular plates with arbitrarily located crack. He partially succeeded
by developing a method based on the combination of finite Fourier transformation and of the
generalized Green-Gauss theorem. A cracked rectangular plate was discussed as one of the
examples. Numerical data were not however obtained partially because the singularity of the
curvature at the tips was not explicitly isolated. The only other paper dealing with a similar topic
was written by Ali and Atwani[4] who used a version of Rayleighs method to study natural
vibration of rectangular plates with cutouts. In the present work finite Fourier sine transformation
is used in conjunction with the generalized Green-Gauss theorem. This method, as was shown
in[3] and [5], eliminates considerable amount of tedious integration by parts. A novel approach
is suggested in relation of differentiation of Fourier series of discontinuous functions. Determining
Fourier coefficients of derivatives constitutes in this case a major undertaking. This effort is reduced
to a fraction by applying again the generalized Green-Gauss theorem. Finally the convergence of
numerical procedure is improved noticeably by replacing the unknown discontinuity of the
displacements amplitude across the crack by the discontinuity of the second derivative of the
displacement across the crack, this last quantity being represented as the sum of the unknown
regular function and of the singular function with the square-root singularities at the tips.
IN THIS paper

a
4

Fig. 1.
1111

R. SOLECKI

1112

2. SERIES SOLUTION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

The differential equation which governs the amplitude of flexural vibration w(x, y) of the plate
shown in Fig. 1 is
DV=V=w- pw=w = 0

(1)

with the boundary conditions of simple support around the contour and the conditions of vanishing
bending momeny MY and vanishing shear force QY at the cracks edge. The solution of (1) is
represented in the form

W(w)=;$ f w,

sin a& sin /Iti

(2)

m-1.3n=l

where a,,, = ma/a and /I,, = mr/b. In order of finding w,, eqn (1) is subjected to finite Fourier sine
transformation which is used in conjunction with the generalized Green-Gauss theorem

(3)
where I is the outer contour of the plate, r-the contour of the crack, ni and iii components of the
unit vector normal to F and r respectively and where F is any tensor. The application to eqn (1)
of this method, which was previously described in[3] and [5], leads to the following expression for
the Fourier coefficient w,:

w,=

n*[(m= + yW)2 -f]

-% [y2n2 + (2 - v)m2]yn cos (nne)

Aw(t)
s

d,awW

dt + (vm + y2n2) sin(nrce)

s

8yod

sm

y(q+

r>

drj

(4)

where v in Poissons ratio and where

Y =;,

e = 2,

p = pw2a4/Dn4.

(5)

The unknown functions Aw(tJ) and (aw(<)/dy) represent respectively the discontinuity of the
displacement and of the slope across the crack.
The approach of Fletcher and Thorne[6] is utilized here in order of improving convergence.
Notice that since the bending moment MY= 0 at the cracks edges therefore also
4M,=Ay+vAF=O

at the crack.

Equation (6) can be applied to transform the first integral in (4):

s
d

Aw(c)sinT(G+t)d<

=&~odA~sin~(~+~)d<.

The unknowns Aaw(t)/ay

where Izk= 1 - fdOk;

and Aa2w(<)/8y2 are expanded now into the following series:

(7)

1113

Vibration of a simply supported rectangular plate

Expression (9) has a built-in square-root singuia~ty at the tips of the crack (~$21). It satisfies also
the conditions Aw(r) = 0, A(~(~)~~y) = 0 at the tips.
Substitution of (8) and (9) into (4) yields the following expression for w,,,,,in terms of the
unknown Fourier coefficients Bk and Wk
wm=

ayn cos(nne)[jW

+ (2 - v>m]

d7r2[(m2+ y2n2)2
-f]

A,B&,, sin y

sin(mre)(vm + rn) x 2

(10)

k=O,Z

where
m@
2a kcosT
-akm

m#@
dm2

m, k = 1,3,, . .

(k/+)2

I a(t$/2) sin(kn/2)

m = kt$

m4

akm

c, = 2JZ&

m sin2
2a
ym-(k/4)

m#kQ,

44 PI cos(kn12)

m=k+

sin y

m=1,3

,...

;k=0,2

an
+ ~~(,JKJ~],

cos m~c(~)+

,..,

4 = d/a

[
and where C(x) and S(x) are Fresnel integrals (see[7])

3. BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND THE CHARACTERISTIC EQUATION

Two boundary conditions are available at the cracks edge for dete~ining
the unknown
dis~ontin~ties
M

a%
N_+v!2-o
ay2

ax2 -

Q~~~+(2-~~~=0,

y = eb,

f-f-

y =eb,

Ix

I-

a-td
2

f-$5x

sf-$f.

(131

Conditions (13) require differentiation of series (2) and this cannot be done term-by-term since this
series represents a discontinuous function with some of the derivatives being discontinuous as well.
Derivation of correct expression can be done by first subdividing the area of the plate into
subdomains such that all functions are continuous in each of them and them proceeding in the
standard way (that is integrating by parts). This approach is very time-consuming. Another
procedure was devised based on generalized Green-Gauss theorem. As an example consider
calculation of aw/ax.
Let:
9 (imnj= sin a,x sin &y,
# (2nnj= cos a,x sin &y,
assume:
aw
2
z=--&ADsin&y+$
n 1

8
m-ln-I

E A,coscr,xsin&v

(14)

1114

and apply Green-Gauss

R. SOLECKI

theorem to the scalar expression WC#I(~~~)

(15)
where I and f are the outer and inner contour (that is contour of the crack) respectively and where
u and ii are unit vectors normal to I or I. It follows from (15) that

But

or

Substituting here (14) for &v/ax one obtains

Finally for a simply supported plate one obtains

w(sin &y)rC, dr sin /?,J

w(cos a,x sin &y)rtS, dr

cos CI,Xsin B,J.

In a similar way one obtains the series expansions for the higher order derivatives appearing in
the boundary conditions. Substituting expressions (2) and (4) into conditions (13) and taking into
account formula for derivatives of the series leads to a system of equations still depending on the
variable x. This dependence is removed by multiplying by sin (prcx/d) dx and integrating the results
over the length of the crack which leads to the following infinite system of algebraic equations
= 0 p = 0,2,

. . co

(17)
+

p=l,3,..c0.

Bkc,,=o

Note that the relationship

B,,= -2

Bk

(18)

k=2,4

resulting from the condition that A\aw/ay

must vanish at the tips, has been also employed here.

Vibration of a simply supported rectangular

plate

1115

The dimensionless quantities appearing in eqn (17) are given below:

C,, = -&

- v)2m4 -flZ,,(e,

z ,*[(I

e)

p = I,3 . .;k=2,4...

m 1
c,,

=f

zk;F
-{[(I

- v2)m4 -fV-L@,

e)

m=1,3
+

(1 -

v)[Z,m(O,

0) -

z3,ck

011)

p-.0,2

[{l-v)*~4-~]Z~~(e,e~

x [(l - v)%~ -f2]Z,,(e,

q{
a2kp,= 1.3 m

Pk, = -

e)

. . . ;k =2,4,...

,...

;k=l,3

,...

p = 0,2, . .

(19)

- (1 - v)& + 2( 1 - v)m*(f - m4)Zsm(e,e)

+ [f - (1 - v2)m4]Z3,,,(e,e)>

P = 0,2,

k,p = 1,3, . . .

_&

5 2 @Pm cos?+(JkG$)+sin{--(1 - v)m

m;4 S&/k+)
a=p m=l,3311J;r; [
I
+ 2(1 - v)m2v2 - m4)Z&e, e) $ v - (1 - v2)m4}Z3m(e,e)] p = 1,3, . . .

where

The characteristic equation is obtained by equating to zero the infinite characteristic determinant
of the system (17). fn practice method of reduction is used to obtain the natural frequencies, that
is the number of rows and columns is limited to a certain finite number
3. ~MERI~AL
EXAMPLE: A CRACKED SQUARE PLATE
For a square plate, y = 1, and the functions (20) become:
z

(t:
Im

_ I7

r )= z
2

c sin[n(l - t2 + <,),+/m

8f

+ sinhH1

- (I - OJm

sinh xJxf

+ sinh[a(l - (r, - t,>dzfi

- C sinh[x(l - t2 + <&%A
sinh n JmTf
where C =

1 for r, r 52
- 1 for 5, I r2

1116

R. SOLECKI

cosh[n(l - 15,- t,l),/~-

coshM1 - 5, - &)Jrt;i-fl

drf
-

-cosh[a(l

sinh

- 15,- &1),/m

n,/Kf
+ cosh[x(l - 51 - L)JM+fl

,,/'xfsinhn: d-f

5m(51,L) = ; - JFf
+JzTf

t,l,dzf + cosh[x(l - tl, - <,,,/F?J

sinh rcJzf

cosh[n(l - 15,-

cosh[x(l - 15,-

&l)J;n'+f
+ cosh[a(l - &- &)Jst;ifl
sinh x ,/Gf

- n cosh[n(l - 15,- <,1)&&-j

2,/-f

+ x cosh[x(l - r,-

t2,,/-3

sinh x,/-f

-___

System of algebraic eqns (17) was also put in more compact form (see [S]) by introducing
following definitions:
Ak =

W,
Bk

C4Pk-$C,

fork=1,3,...
fork=2,4,...
;p=o,2,...

fork=1,3,...
fork=2,4

,...

;p=O,2 ,...

f-i&$

fork=1,3

,...

;p=1,3

,...

c ipk

fork=2,4

,...

;p=l,3

,...

Gkp

the

c,, = c

(22)

Now the system of eqns (17) takes the form

fA,C,,=Op=o,l,..a

(23)

k=l

and the characteristic

equation becomes
det)C,,l=O

k=1,2,..co;p=O,l,..a.

(24)

Characteristic eqn (24) was first solved for the crack located on the symmetry line y = b/2 = l/2
(see Fig. 1). This allowed for comparison with the existing results given in[2]. Table 1 presents the
smallest values of the frequency factors f corresponding
to symmetric-symmetric
and
symmetric-antisymmetric
(opened crack) vibrations and compares them with values calculated
in[2]. It should be noted that the present results were obtained by considering a 20 x 20 matrix
(in few cases a 30 x 30 matrix). For opened-crack vibrations the results were not sufficiently
accurate for a crack extending almost to the edges.
When crack is not located on the symmetry line both modes are coupled. The frequency factors
f for 2 lowest modes were calculated for d/a = 0.5 and for various relative distances of the crack
from the edge (0 < e,/a I 0.5). Results are given in Table 2 and represented graphically in Fig. 2.
It is interesting to note that the smallest value of the frequency factor corresponding to the second
mode is obtained for a crack located approximately at e/a, = 0.25.

1117

Vibration of a simply supported rectangular plate

Table 1. Comparison of the fund~~~l
frequency factors with the resutts
obtained in 121
Symmetric-An&metric

Symmetric-Symmetric
Ref. [2]

dla
0.1

I .988

1.988

0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0

1.955

I .9.56

1.906
1.849
1.192
1.738
1.693
1.660
1.640
1.635

1.908
1.852
1.794
1.742
I .696
1.662
1.642
1.634

Ref. [2] Comments

Comments

30 x
30 x
30 x
30 x

4.999
4.983
4.912
4.721
4.354
3.846
3.298
2.807

30
30
30
30

4.998
4.982
4.912
4.724
4.360
3.848
3.304
2.814
2.289
I .634

fnaccurate

Inaccurate
Inaccurate

Table 2. Influence of the relative location (e,/a)

of the crack on the frequency factorsffor lowest
two modes (d/a = 0.5)

elIa

f,

0.01

1.947
1.924
1.900
1.877
I .856
I.835
1.818
1.804
1.794
1.787
1.785

4.605
4.384
4.250
4.179
4.154
4.166
4.203
4.253
4.303
4.388
4.351

0.05
0.10
0.15

0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50

d/a=

Comments
Inaccurate

All results
from
20 x 20 matrix

0.5

f2
~,~~~~--_______~~_~~~~___~_

e,/a

------no crack/

I.800
1750 /
0

)
.I0

I
.20

/
.30

Fig. 2.

,
.40

,.50

el /a

1118

R. SOLECKI

Acknowledgements-This
work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research
Contract NOOO14-81-K-0651 and in part by the University of Connecticut Research Foundation Grant No.
1171-000-22-00507-35-164.

REFERENCES
[1] L. M. Keer and C. Sve, On the bending of cracked plates. In?. J. Sol. Strucfures 6, 1545-1559 (1970).
[2] B. Stahl and L. M. Keer, Vibration and stability of cracked rectangular plates. Int. J. Sol. Sfructures 8, 69-92 (1972).
[3] R. Solecki, Isotropic Finite Plates with Cracks. Proc. 12th Annual Meeting of Ihe Society of Engineering Science, pp.
373-380. The University of Texas at Austin (20-22 Oct. 1975).
[4] R. Ali and S. J. Atwai, Prediction of natural frequencies of vibration of rectangular plates with rectangular cutouts.
Comput. Structures 12, 819-826 (1980).
[5] R. Solecki, Bending vibration of simply supported rectangular plates with internal rigid support. Inr. J. Engng Sci. 18,
1309-1318 (1980).
[6] H. J. Fletcher and C. J. Thorne, Bending of thin rectangular plates. Proc. 2nd U.S. Nut. Cong. Appl. Mech., pp. 389406
(1954).
[7] T. Pearcey, Table of the Fresnel Integral. University Press, Cambridge (1956).
[S] L. W. Kantorowitsch and W. I. Krylow, Niiherungsmethoden der HGherenanalysis. V.E.B. (1956)
(Received 28 October 1982; receivedfor

publication 17 January 1983)