Journal of Sound and Vibration (1990) 139(2), 325-335

A GENERAL

SOLUTION

RECTANGULAR

FOR

PLATES

ELASTIC

THE

FREE

RESTING

EDGE

VIBRATION

ON

OF

UNIFORM

SUPPORTS

D. J. GORMAN
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada K 1 N 6N5
(Received 21 November 1988, and in revised form 4 September 1989)

In this paper it is shown how the superposition method is employed to obtain accurate
solutions for the free vibration frequencies and mode shapes of rectangular plates resting
on elastic edge supports. The analysis is completely general in that uniform elastic rotational
and translational supports of any stifiess magnitudes are considered to act simultaneously
along each of the four edges, eight stiffness coefficients being required to define the
problem. It is shown how all of the classical boundary conditions are approached when
the coefficients are allowed to take on appropriate limits. A limited number of plots of
fundamental mode eigenvalues vs. stiffness coefficients are presented for square plate
problems of special interest. To the authors knowledge, this represents the first accurate
comprehensive treatment of this problem to appear in the literature.

1. INTRODUCTION

It is generally accepted that edge support provided along the boundaries

of rectangular
plates is always elastic in nature. One may, for convenience, choose to idealize such
support as being of the classical clamped or simple support type, but it is recognized that
such idealized conditions are never fully achieved in reality. The achieving of such
conditions would imply infinite stiffness in the support structure. It is true, nevertheless,
that for many real problems the mathematical simplicity realized with assumption of
classical boundary conditions is warranted. The effects of edge elasticity on free vibration
frequencies and mode shapes, for example, are often minimal.
In this paper the general family of problems encountered when uniform elastic rotational
and translational stiffness is distributed simultaneously along each of the four plate edges
is considered. While stiffnesses are uniform along any one edge they can take on different
values for each of the four edges, thereby requiring eight stiffness coefficients to be
assigned to each problem. A review of the literature reveals that this general problem has
not heretofore been properly addressed. Among the more easily handled sets of subproblems is the one wherein the plates must have at least one pair of opposite edges simply
supported, with various combinations of elastic support conditions imposed along the
remaining edges. A number of solutions to problems of this type have been discussed by
Leissa in his well known reviews [l]. It will be apparent that Levy-type solutions are
achievable for problems of this set.
Other researchers have addressed problems where a pair of opposite simply supported
edges do not exist, but have not undertaken to resolve the general problem considered
here. In many cases rotational stiffness or translational stiffness is considered to act, but
not both simultaneously. An exception is the work of Warburton and Edley [2] who have
utilized

the Rayleigh-Ritz

method

0022460X/90/110325+11%03.00/O

to obtain solutions
325

to some of this latter

@ 1990Academic

family

of

Press Limited

326

D. J. GORMAN

problems where the two types of elastic stiffnesses act simultaneously along an edge.
They have also provided a valuable review of the literature in this area.
The reference paper most pertinent to the material presented here is an earlier one
published by the author [3]. This earlier publication differs from the present one in that
it was restricted to the treatment of problems for which the elastic edge support had a
symmetric distribution about the plate central axes. In effect, this restriction limited the
treatment to problems for which each pair of opposite edges had identical stiffness
coefficients. Only four elastic coefficients were required to define the problem and, as
expected, it was found that all possible plate free vibration modes possessed symmetry
or antisymmetry with respect to the plate central axes, or symmetry with respect to one
axis and antisymmetry with respect to the other.
In the authors opinion, solutions for all of these subsets of problems play a valuable
role in research and technology. It is true that with the general solution to be discussed
shortly, one can approach any of the above solutions by allowing one or more of the
eight elastic coefficients to take on limiting values. These limiting values can be zero, or
very high finite values which permit simulation of infinite stiffnesses. Nevertheless, for
the more simple problems such as those with at least one pair of opposite edges simply
supported, or more general problems with symmetrically distributed elastic support, more
accuracy can be obtained with Levy-type solutions for the former and solutions which
take advantage of the symmetry for the latter. In this latter case a better insight into plate
behaviour is also obtained through delineating between the various mode families [3].
Of utmost importance is the fact that solutions for these subsets of problems provide
valuable limiting cases which must be approached when conducting verification tests on
the general solution obtained here.
2. MATHEMATICAL

FORMULATION

OF

THE

GENERAL

PROBLEM

An accurate solution to the general problem is obtained by means of an extension of

the superposition method as described in reference [3]. Essentially, one obtains exact
Levy-type solutions for a number of rectangular plate forced vibration problems (building
blocks) and, having superimposed these solutions, one writes a system of homogeneous
algebraic equations constraining the driving coefficients so that the assembled blocks
satisfy the prescribed boundary conditions. The eigenvalues are those values of the
dimensionless frequency which permit a non-trivial solution for the homogeneous
equations [ 41.
In the general problem under study here, eight building blocks are required. Only the
first two are described in detail since the steps required to obtain solutions to the other
six will be obvious.
The first two building blocks are shown in Figure 1. All non-driven edges have slip
shear boundary conditions: i.e., the vertical edge reaction is zero everywhere along these
edges and slope taken normal to the edge is everywhere zero. This condition is indicated
by two small circles adjacent to the edge.
The first building block is free of vertical edge reaction along its driven edge, but this
same edge is subjected to a harmonic rotation of circular frequency o and with a distributed
amplitude represented by the series (a list of nomenclature is given in the Appendix)
d Wl(5, 77)

= f E,,, cos m?r&

m=O,l
I)=1
87)
A Levy-type solution for this building block is written as
Wr(& 77)=

m=O,l

y,(n)

cos mvt.

(2)

RECTANGULAR

PLATE

ON

ELASTIC

EDGE

Figure 1. First two building blocks of set of eight used in conducting

plates with uniform elastic restraint along all edges.

321

SUPPORT

the free vibration

analysis

By substituting equation (2) into the governing differential equation

established procedures it is easily shown that one may write [4]

of rectangular

and following

where
Pm = Cpm,

ym =$m

e Ilrn = 1/ml
zzl =

022m= l/(&

+zz1Ym/zz2L

@,{/.I, - v*+2( mr)2},

- zzly,/zz3),

or

+m,

whichever is real,

em = -1/mJWzzl+

YmL

zz2 = y,{-y, + v*f$( m7r)2},

823m= -1/(&zz3/221-

ym),

zz3 = rm{ym- y*+2(mr)2}.

The second building block has a condition of zero bending moment imposed along its
driven edge. It is driven by a harmonic edge displacement of circular frequency w, the
amplitude of which is also represented by the cosine series of equation (1). A similar
solution, W,(& n), is derived for the second building block.
In order to conduct an analysis of the general problem discussed here, it will be
necessary to have available the solutions for six more building blocks, as shown along
the upper edge of Figure 2. These building blocks differ from those discussed above only
in that they are driven along different edges. It will be apparent that solutions for these
additional six building blocks can readily be extracted from the first two. It is only
necessary to interchange the variables 77 and 5, and replace the aspect ratio with its
inverse, where required, or to replace 7 by 1 - n or 5 by 1 - 5, etc. It will be noted that
additional symbols for the driving coefficients, E,, E,, E,,, etc., have been introduced in
order to avoid confusion.
With the building block solutions available, the next step is to construct the eigenvalue
matrix which is represented schematically in Figure 2. The dimensionless rotational and
translational stiffness coefficients are designated by the symbols KR and &, respectively,
and are defined in the Appendix. Each of these symbols will have an additional subscript
indicating the edge upon which it acts. The subscript 1 indicates the lower edge, n = 1,
of the plate. Subsequent numbers 2,3 and 4 refer to the other edges in sequence as one
moves counterclockwise around the plate. The distribution of these stiffness coefficients
is shown schematically in Figure 3.

328

D. J. GORMAN

(M-_Ke,E)

-K,$
_
a7

--_---- M- ---

KL,W

-------

V+K,,H
-

- KL, W----

-------

-M----

-M__--

-M----

-------

---___-

_------

- K,W_---

- KL,W
----

--

-KL,
----

W-

---_---

-------

-------

-M__--

-M----

--M--M-

-------

_--___-

- KLzW----

l-------

-KLIW

-K,,lb

_-_-

- KLzW___-

-KLzW----

--K,,W----

--KL3W----

KuW

---__--

KLPW
-

---_--M-

-M----------

----___
----I-K,,
----

-M-M

-------

----

-------

---_---

____1____
----

-------

----l----

- KLpW_---

_ ------

W-

-KL,W----

-M---M-

---_---

-------

--KLqW----

--KL4W----

Figure
solutions.

----

----

----

----

--KL4
-__-

2. Schematic representation
Symbols on right indicate

W-

W-K,
----

W.

of eigenvalue matrix based on four-term expansions

for building block
edges where moment or vertical edge reaction equilibrium
are enforced.

Rectangular figures along the right edge of the schematic matrix of Figure 2 indicate
whether the associated group of equations are related to moment or vertical edge force
equilibrium and to which edge they pertain. The first group arises because of the
requirement to satisfy the equilibrium condition
W(5P*/aW-&,

dW5,

rl)ld&=,

=O,

(4)

where [3]
WW)b*/W

= -D*W(& n)/an*+

~~*~*W~, 7,)/%%,=,

(5)

All moment and slope distributions along the edge, n = 1, which are not available in
a cosine series are expanded in such a series. The first, second and third equations, etc.,
in the group are then obtained by requiring that the sum of the contributions to the left
side of equation (4) of each building block must equal zero, for the first, second and
third terms of the series, etc. This is in keeping with established practices [4]. The major

RECTANGULAR

PLATE

ON

ELASTIC

EDGE

SUPPORT

329

473, KL~

&I.

KLI

Figure 3. Schematic representation

of rectangular
plate resting on uniform
of eight stiffness coefficients along plate edges is indicated.

elastic edge supports.

Distribution

difference related to problems with elastic rotational edge support is the existence of the
second term in equation (4).
For the second group of equations related to the eigenvalue matrix it will be appreciated
that the equilibrium condition which must be satisfied can be written as
{%V3/0+GW(5,

n)ln=, =O,

(6)

where [4]
U(5)b3/0=

-{a~(& rl)/d$+

v*9a3w(5, n)/dn 881.

(7)

Matrix elements related to this group are prepared in a manner identical to that described
for the first group.
It will now be appreciated that, as one continues around the plate in counterclockwise
fashion, all of the eight groups of equations can be written and the associated elements
of the eigenvalue matrix generated. The schematic matrix of Figure 2 is based on a
four-term expansion for each building block. The actual number of terms employed can
be arbitrarily increased in order to achieve any degree of desired convergence. The
procedure for computing eigenvalues is well established. One chooses a trial eigenvalue
and computes the determinant of the associated matrix. The trial value is increased in
increments until a value is obtained which causes the matrix determinant to vanish. Higher
eigenvalues may then be computed. With an eigenvalue obtained and one of the driving
coefficients set equal to unity, a solution for the remaining driving coefficients can be
obtained and the associated mode shape plotted.
Before presenting computed results, there is a further simplication which must be
discussed. It will be observed that the upper left quadrant of the matrix of Figure 2 is
identical to the matrix of reference [3] and is the only portion of the present matrix which
is required if the plate elastic edge supports are symmetrically distributed about the plate
central axis. Consider next the group of four segments of the present matrix immediately
below the upper left quadrant and surrounded on their right and lower extremities by a
heavy line. It is easily shown that with the matrix elements for this group of segments as
well as those of the upper quadrant computed, no further element computation is required.
Elements of all other segments will either be identical to those of one of the above
segments or can be extracted from one of them with proper changes in signs introduced.

330

D. J. GORMAN

Taking advantage of these observations reduces computer running time and also reduces
the possibility of error.

3. PRESENTATION OF COMPUTED RESULTS

All results reported here were computed with a view to obtaining four digit accuracy
in the eigenvalues. Convergence was found to be so rapid that as few as five terms in the
building block solutions was sufficient. Nevertheless, all data presented here was computed
with 11 terms used in the series. The major objective of these computations was to verify
the theory by confirming that the appropriate classical limits are approached as the
stiffness coefficients vary from zero to infinity.
The first computations involved a study of the variation of plate free vibration frequency
with rotational stiffness coefficient. The results are shown in Figure 4. The first flexural
mode of a plate of aspect ratio 1.05 and zero vertical edge reaction is examined. The
rotational stiffness coefficient is given equal values along all edges. An aspect ratio of
l-05 instead of 1-O was used in order to avoid encountering double roots. It is seen that
the eigenvalue moves rapidly from the lower limit of zero to the known upper limit as
the rotational stiffness coefficient is increased. While the upper limit can never be reached,
it is observed that the difference between the eigenvalue and this limit becomes very small
for values of the rotational stiffness coefficient greater than 90-O. In Figure 5 the variation
of eigenvalue with translational stiffness coefficient is studied for first mode flexural
vibration of a square plate. The translational stiffness coefficient is given equal values
along all edges. The rotational stiffness coefficient is everywhere zero.

Rotational

stiffness coeffuent

Figure 4. Eigenvalue us. rotational stiffness coefficient for first Rexural mode of rectangular
plate with uniform
rotational
stiffness along edges. Zero vertical edge reaction along boundaries.
First mode vibration node line
is indicated by broken line. K,, , KL2, K,, , K, = 0; K,, = K,, = K,, = K,,

It is seen that the initial rise of eigenvalue with stiffness coefficient is quite rapid.
Nevertheless, beyond a value of about 300 the rate at which the eigenvalue approaches
the known upper limit is quite slow. This is almost certainly due to the nature of the
simply supported edge conditions which one is trying to approach. It will be recalled
that in the exact classical solution to the free vibration of a simply supported rectangular
plate there are concentrated harmonic forces imposed on the plate by the edge support
at each comer. From a mathematical point of view these forces give rise to infinite stresses.

RECTANGULAR

PLATE

L(-First

ON

ELASTIC

EDGE

SUPPORT

331

mode upper limit, X2=19

-KL,

-KL,=1500-3300

~51

r3

$:b/a=l,O
200

250

300

350

400

KLI

Figure 5. Eigenvalue
us. translational
stiffness coefficient for first Rexural mode of rectangular
plate with
uniform translational
stiffness along edges. Zero bending moment along all boundaries.
K,, = K,, = K,, =

K,,=O; K,, = K,,= K,,= K,,.

With finite lateral elastic edge support it will be appreciated that the classical comer
conditions of the plate are very difficult to approach.
In Figure 6, the first flexural mode free vibration of a square plate with varying uniform
elastic rotational support is studied. It is desired to explore the plate behaviour between
the limits of simply supported and clamped conditions.
Guided by the results of Figure 5, it was decided to simulate infinite lateral support
stiffness by setting the translational stiffness coefficient equal to 3000 all along the plate
edges. It is seen that there is an initial very rapid rise in eigenvalue with rotational stiffness.
After a value of about 100 is reached by the rotational stiffness coefficient, the rate of
rise falls off rapidly. This slow approach toward the upper limit eigenvalue of the fully
clamped plate is almost certainly related to the difference between lateral support supplied
by the elastic edges and support supplied in the classical solution as discussed above. It
should be emphasized, however, that this observed behaviour in no way detracts from
II00
,700
500
900
,300
1500
1900
2100
2300
700
40
, , , , , , / , , I , ( , / , , , , , , , , , , / , , / , , , , ( , / , , , , , / , , ,

~-First

mode upper lhmtt -

fully clamped, X2=35.98

Figure 6. Eigenvalue
vs. rotational
stiffness coefficient. For first Rexural mode of rectangular
plate with
uniform rotational
stiffness along edges. All edges given lateral support with uniform translational
stiffness
coefficient equal to 3000 to simulate infinite stiffness. K,, = K,,= K,,= K,,= 3000; K,, = K,, = K,, = KR4.

D. J. GORMAN

332

the accuracy of the solutions obtained and their applicability

in the softer (elastic) regions
where they are most likely to be required. In fact, by increasing the translational
stiffness
to a value of 15 000 the upper limit of Figure 6 was approached
to within 1.2%.
Perhaps the ultimate test of an analysis of the type presented
here is its ability to
approach all of the known eigenvalues for plates with classical boundary conditions. The
results of a comprehensive
test of this type are presented in Table 1. All of the unique
cases of square plate first mode vibration with classical boundary conditions are examined.
Each case is designated
by a letter code following established
practices. The letters S, C
and F designate simple support, clamped and free edge conditions,
respectively. The first
letter designates the condition enforced along the edge 5 = 0 (Figure 3). Subsequent letters
designate conditions
enforced along edges in successive order on moving counter clockwise around the plate. In each case studied the appropriate
stiffness coefficients were
given values of zero or 3000, to simulate zero or infinite stiffnesses, respectively.
It will be noted that all of the limiting cases are approached,
with a maximum deviation
from limiting case eigenvalues of 5.6%. As would be expected, maximum deviation occurs
for the fully clamped case when all eight stiffness coefficients are required to approach
infinity. The more free edges there are in the limiting case the less is the deviation, with
the deviation equal to zero for the completely free plate. This is to be expected, as both
rotational
and translational
stiffnesses are zero along a free edge and these conditions
can be exactly satisfied by the present analysis.
As indicated earlier, the mode shape associated with any eigenvalue is easily obtained,
and numerous mode shapes have been computed for the purpose of verifying the method.
A word of caution is in order when utilizing the analysis described here to study free
TABLE

Comparison between square plate jirst mode free vibration eigenvalues

obtained for plates with classical boundary conditions [4] and those
approached as limiting cases with the present analysis
Case
no.

Case
designation

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

ssss
scss
scsc
SFSS
SFSC
SFSF
cccc
sees
cscc
CFFF
SFFF
FFFF
CFFC
CFFS
SFFS
CFCF
CFSF
CFCC
CFSC
CFCS
CFSS

Actual
eigenvalue [4]
19.74
23.65
28.95
11.58
12.56
9.568
35.98
27.05
31.82
3.459
14.77
19.22
6.845
5.278
3.292
22.11
15.13
23.82
17.42
23.28
16.70

Approach
value
19.09
22.74
27.55
11.36
12.29
9,483
33.95
25.90
30.20
3.432
14.66
19.22
6.784
5.220
3.249
21.41
14.86
22.97
16.98
22.47
16.30

Deviation
W)
3.4
3.8
4.8
1.6
2.3
0.9
5.6
4,3
5.1
O-8
0.7
0.0
2.8
1.1
0.5
3.2
1.8
3.8
2.7
3.5
2.3

RECTANGULAR

PLATE

ON

ELASTIC

EDGE

SUPPORT

333

vibration modes for plates the elastic edge support of which possesses symmetry with
respect to the plate central axis. If fully symmetric modes, such as the first mode, are
under study, it will be appreciated that all of the odd terms in the series solutions for
the building blocks will have zero coefficients. The analyst must make sure not to set one
of these coefficients equal to unity when commencing the mode shape study. Similar rules
apply to antisymmetric modes of vibration. One must make sure that it is one of the
non-zero building block coefficients which is set equal to unity when commencing the
mode shape computation.
Knowledgeable readers will recognize that vast compilations of eigenvalues, for various
modes, in terms of stiffness coefficients and plate aspect ratio could be prepared with the
analytical procedure described here. In fact, it would be virtually impossible to store all
information of possible use. A wide range of eigenvalues has been presented in reference
[3] for square plates with symmetry in their elastic support. It is believed that it is not
practical to try and add to this latter compilation of data. The interested reader is referred
to the above reference for eigenvalue tabulation and no extension of this data is attempted
here.
Nevertheless, three further specific problems are addressed here, which are related to
first mode free vibration of the square plate. The first problem is for a plate with three
free edges, with the fourth edge given elastic support. The first mode eigenvalue is plotted
against the square root of the rotational stiffness coefficient for four different values of
the translational coefficient in Figure 7. The curve related to the highest translational
stiffness approaches the value of 3.432 as listed in Table 1 for cantilever plates. The other
curves approach limiting values which are considerably lower due to the lower values of
translational stiffnesses utilized. All eigenvalues approach zero as their lower limit, as
expected.

3.0

2.5
i

OY

Figure 7. Eigenvalue
free edges.

us. square root of rotational stiffness for first mode vibration of square plate with three

The curves of Figure 8 are of a similar nature, but are related to the problem of the
plate with two adjacent free edges and two edges given equal values of rotational support
and equal values of translational support. Again, the appropriate upper limit as given in
Table 1 is approached by the curve with the highest translational stiffness. The curves of

334

D.

J.

Figure 8. Eigenvalue
vs. square root of rotational
adjacent free edges. Other edges have equal rotational

GORMAN

stiffness for first mode vibration of square plate with two

and equal translational
stiffnesses. K,, = K,,; K,, = K,,

this figure differ significantly from those of Figure 7 in that they do not approach zero
as a lower limit. This is to be expected since two adjacent edges still possess finite
translational stiffness support at the lower limit. In the preceding problem a zero-frequency
rotational mode was approached as the rotational stiffness approached zero.
Finally, in Figure 9, similar curves are presented for the corresponding problem with
one free edge, only. Again, the appropriate upper limit is approached by the curve related
to the plate with highest translational stiffness.

KL, -15

0
0

I
0.5

I
I 0

I
I 5

I
2.0

I
2.5

I
3.0

3.5

+G

Figure 9. Eigenvalue
us. square root of rotational stiffness for first mode vibration of square plate with one
free edge. Other edges have equal rotational and equal translational
stiffnesses. K,, = K,, = K,, ; K,, = K,, =
KR3.

RECTANGULAR

PLATE ON

4. SUMMARY

ELASTIC EDGE

SUPPORT

335

AND CONCLUSIONS

The analytical
method described
herein is simple to formulate,
and is capable of
providing highly accurate frequency and mode shape information
for the free vibration
of rectangular
plates with uniform elastic rotational
and translational
stiffnesses along
each edge. Convergence
is found to be rapid. All of the first mode classical free vibration
eigenvalues
for square plates are shown to be approached
as limiting cases. The analysis
not only provides eigenvalues
and mode shape information
when plate edge elasticity
coefficients are prescribed,
but it can be used to help establish those coefficients when
frequencies
are measured experimentally.
To the authors knowledge this constitutes the
first accurate and comprehensive
solution for this general family of practical problems.

REFERENCES
1. A. W. LEISSA 1969 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Report, NASASP-160.
Vibration of plates.
2. G. B. WARBURTON
and S.L.EDNEY 1984 Journalof Sound and Vibration 95,537-552. Vibrations
of rectangular plates with elastically restrained edges.
3. D. J. GORMAN
1989 Journal of Applied Mechanics 56, 893-899. A comprehensive study of the
free vibration of rectangular plates resting on symmetrically distributed uniform elastic edge
supports.
4. D. J. GORMAN
1982 Free Vibration Analysis OfRectangular Plates. New York: Elsevier North
Holland.

APPENDIX:
a
b
D
E
h
K*
k
KR
Kl.
M
Mb2/ aD
T
W
2
9
w
P
V
V*
A

NOMENCLATURE

lateral dimension of rectangular plate

lateral dimension of rectangular plate
plate flexural rigidity, Eh3/( 12( 1 - v))
modulus of elasticity of plate material
plate thickness
upper subscript limit in first series summation
elastic rotational stiffness along plate edge
dimensionless
rotational stiffness coefficient along plate edge, = kb/ D
dimensionless
translational
stiffness coefficient along plate edge, = 7b3/ D
bending moment in plate
dimensionless
bending moment
elastic translational
stiffness along plate edge
plate lateral deflection divided by a
distance along plate divided by side length b
distance along plate divided by side length a
plate aspect ratio, = b/ a
circular frequency of plate vibration
mass per unit area of plate
Poisson ratio of plate material (0.333)
=2-v
eigenvalue, =oa2m