Int. J. Mech. Sci. Pergamon Press Ltd. 1966. Vol. 8, pp. 89-100.

Printed in Great Britain

V I B R A T I O N OF T H I N ELASTIC PLATES OF
LINEARLY VARIABLE THICKNESS

B. BASAVA RAJU
Structures and Materials Division, National Aeronautical Laboratory,
Bangalore-6, India
(Received 12 July 1965)

Summary--The natural frequencies and the node patterns for clamped and simply
supported square plates of linearly variable thickness are determined experimentally
using a pulsed-air vibrator. Finite-difference approximation is used to solve the vibrating
plate problem and the resulting eigen-value problem is solved by the use of a digital
computer. Eigen-values are the frequencies and the eigen-veetors represent the relative
plate amplitudes. Experimental results are compared with finite-difference results and
disagreements between the two, if any, are discussed in detail.

NOTATION
a side-dimension of the square plate
E~,
Di 12(1- v 2) plate rigidity at a point i
D~ plate rigidity at a reference point
E modulus of elasticity
q distributed load per unit area, with positive load downward
t plate thickness
co/mr, a dimensionless number
8i Di/Dr, variable thickness plate rigidity ratio
A a/n, the spacing of grid used in the difference method
Poisson's ratio
p mass density of plate material
co angular frequency
cot a parameter in terms of which frequency is expressed, J(Dpt~a4)

I. INTRODUCTION
EXACT solutions are not available for the frequency of vibration of rectangular
plates of variable thickness. K o g a e v I uses the Ritz m e t h o d to find the
frequencies in blades of hydraulic turbines. Polynomials are used as co-
ordinating functions as t h e y ensure rapid convergence a n d give considerable
simplification in calculating integrals from co-ordinating functions. G u m e n y u k 2
uses a finite-difference a p p r o x i m a t i o n to find the frequencies in plates in the
f o r m o f a rectangle and an isosceles triangle, the thickness being r e g a r d e d as
d e p e n d e n t o n l y on one co-ordinate a n d v a r y i n g b y a linear law, while the edges
of the plate are free. A simple a p p r o a c h to the problem of variable thickness
plates is impossible, if one has in m i n d a general solution which is to a p p l y to
all problems in variable thickness plates.
I n this s t u d y , s c l a m p e d a n d simply s u p p o r t e d square plates are considered.
T h e v a r i a t i o n o f thickness is linear. T h e purpose of this s t u d y is to
89
90 B . BASAVA P~AJU

experimentally determine the natural frequencies and nodal patterns in the

case of clamped and simply supported square plates of variable thickness, and
to compare the values obtained by experiment with those obtained by finite
differences. Besides the above applications, the finite-difference method with
the use of a digital computer can be applied to vibrating plates with various
other boundary conditions, the thickness variation being quite arbitrary.

2. F I N I T E - D I F F E R E N C E ANALYSIS
The difference equation, see Figs. 1 and 2, and the boundary conditions, Fig. 3, are
derived by use of the plate analogy in the Appendix. The models for finite-difference

~ X

N N

NW N NE

?
I I
W W E E E
I
° II
I I
!
c - ~ - - - .Ab

$ W is SE

SS

FIG. l. N o t a t i o n o f p o i n t s i n t h e d i f f e r e n c e m e t h o d .

+zO-7,) 8d + 2 (1-1,) a~
+ ~,(6,,+ 8®) -z(~-2,)(5,,. ad) + 1,(a~+ Be)
I

+(a,,+a.,+~.+~,) +8(,÷~,)a. -20~l,)(ao+~.) - ~ =K

-a(,-1,)(a~+~a) + 20-~')(a.+ ab+~ *~.) - z(t- ~')Ca,+ ab)
I

+2(,-~)ab
+ z,(~.+ a.)

4
~. = ~ whe~ i=~,~,e,~, arc,
EfT ~
D.= ,2-~-(~-_v • )
Dr
"r" is particular point in plate used as reference.
FIG. 2. F i n i t e - d i f f e r e n c e p a t t e r n f o r p l a t e e q u a t i o n .
 Vibration of thin elastic plates of linearly variable thickness 91

analysis are clamped and simply supported square plates whose thickness varies according
to the ratios t/to = ½, 2, see Fig. 4 and Table 1. The grid spacings of ~ = a/6 and ~ = a/8
are used in all the cases. The bending mode is obtained by numbering the node points
only over one-eighth of the plate surface, see Fig. 5 for ~ = a/6, thus making use of

+0-v)(~=*Sd)]

88oi(~'~) I ~
=K
~("'×~.'~.+¢+a.)l I. . . . . . . . . ~ J

(0) First interior point from free edge (b) First interior point from free corner

+zSdO-~'}]
I
+ 2 ( t - Y ) ~d = ~"

(c) Free corner point

('~ tong )4
K = D~

' I

(d) Point on the free edge (e) Point once removed from free corner

Fig. 3. Plate-equation patterns for points close to the

free-edge boundary.

symmetry. This yields the fifth mode also. For second, third and fourth modes, the node
lines are assumed as shown in Fig. 5.
By writing the finite-difference equations for all node points, a system of simultaneous
linear algebraic equations are obtained which can be expressed in m a t r i x form as

[A-xB] W = 0 (I)

where A is the m a t r i x of coefficients of terms on the left-hand side of the equation of

Fig. 2; B, the diagonal matrix resulting from the right-hand side of the equation of Fig. 2 ;
W, the column m a t r i x of the deflexions; X = Pwns A4/Do; and ~ = a/n, the grid spacing.
The m a t r i x A is symmetric and positive definite. E q u a t i o n (1) is in standard (eigen-value)
92 B. BASAVA RAJU

i
2

t
Z
-->1 J-<l
to to
(o) (b)
Fro. 4. Thickness variation in plate models.

÷ <-2+ + +2 -2 -

+2 <-4 + 5 + 4 + 2 +3 +4 -4 -3 i

+S +5 + 6<-5+3 +5 +6 - 6 -15 j~
~-2 -1"i4+ 5 4 4 + 2 ~~ +3 +4 -4.-~3

+1 -k~, + 5 < ' 2 + + +2 -2- ~/

I
-).
~- - - -%--. / .

(o) FIRST MODE (b) SECOND MODE

+ +2
i
~ ' + +2 + 3 /
• -,12 -,

+3 +4 -4 -3 -,~ ~i4 /-~

_~ _ , ~ i / - 4 - ,
-3 -4 +4 +3 ~ / , , ~ _,
-I -2 +2+

I
/, \

(cl THIRD MODE (d)FOURTH MODE

FIG. 5. Finite-difference grid ()t = a/6) for v i b r a t i o n in plates.
 Vibration of thin elastic plates of linearly variable thickness 93

form and ~he eigen-values and the eigen-vectors are obtained by the use of a digital
computer. The eigen-values give the frequencies of a freely vibrating plate of variable

TABLE 1. DESIGNATIONOFMODELS
Edge condition t/to Name of
of plate plate model

Clamped 2 A
Clamped ½ B
Simply supported 2 D
Simply supported ½ E

Note : Model material : Aluminium

Modulus of elasticity (E) = 10.53 × 106 lb/in 2
Mass density (p) = 2.596 × 10-4 lb see~/in4
Poisson's ratio = 1.
a

thickness and for each eigen-value the corresponding eigen-vector gives the relative
amplitudes of vibration.

3. E X P E R I M E N T A L SET-UP
The experimental determination of frequencies and the mode shapes of the vibrating
plate is made b y the use of a pulsed-air vibrator, Fig. 6. Compressed air at 90 psi m a x i m u m
pressure is passed through a "chopper" which consists of two perforated disks. The
rotating perforated disk is driven b y a motor whose speed can be varied continuously from

Air Inlet I" Dio,90p~.,

Rotatingwheel CAMERA~
Variable Speed
D.C.Motor,2 lIP,
0-2500RPM.
Slot~ed wheel
N
]]
II StationaryPlate ~
Platemodel
sn.4~,=.,
r ~
Support for Plate-- ~

~ ~ Nozzle

~ Reducer

L "Photoc,, ? cRo

L Preamplifier ~ I Electronic
Counter H Strain
Aml3Gauge
11fier I
Electronic
Counter

FIG. 6. Schematic of pulsed-air vibrator.

0 to 2500 rev/min. The perforations in the stationary plate are made to match exactly
the perforations in the rotating disk, the distance between these two plates being from
7
94 B. BASAVARAJu
3 to 4 mills. The excitation frequency is measured at the motor shaft by means of a
phototube speed indicator. I n order to photograph the nodal lines, the plate is supported
horizontally. The response of the plate support is sufficiently far away from the plate
response to permit any mode of vibration within the frequency range to be excited. The
actual plate response is determined b y a SR-4 gauge mounted on the vibrating plate.
The excitation frequency is capable of variation from 10 c/s to 1000 e/s and also it could
remain fixed for a particular setting, thus permitting continued running at the particular
resonant frequency chosen. The frequency and amplitude of the vibrating plate are
easily varied by controlling such factors as air flow, relative location of the nozzle with
respect to the nodal lines of the vibrating plate, nozzle size and the rotor speed.

4. R E S U L T S
The frequencies calculated by finite differences and those determined by experiment
are expressed in terms of a parameter

where D, is the flexural rigidity, Et~/{12(1-v~)} (in lb/in.); E, Young's modulus of

elasticity (in lb/in.2); v, Poisson's ratio; a, the length of the side of plate (in in.); and
p, the plate mass density (in lb secS/in.4). The measured frequency and the parameter cot
are related b y

where a is a dimensionless n u m b e r ' w h i c h is comparable for the different plates despite

differences in physical constants and dimensions. The values of a or co/tot are given in
Table 2 for clamped plate models A and B. Table 3 shows the values of a for simply

TABLE 2. N A T U R A L F R E Q U E N C I E S I N CLAMPED V A R I A B L E T H I C K N E S S P L A T E S

Finite difference frequency (co/cot)

Exper.
Model Mode A = a/6 A = a/8 Extrapolated frequency
frequency (oj/~r)

Model A 1 59.780 61.534 63.790 63.20

te~ e = 2tceatre 2 104"523 111"464 120"392 116"70
3 149"239 161'688 178"385 172'20
4 157"147 171"846 190"745 200"48
5 150"928 174"234 204"199 201"55
6 205"307 229"199 259"918 258"57

Model B 1 18-204 19.399 20.936 21.58

tedge = ~t~nure 2 36.397 39.541 43.584 46.54
3 54.379 60.165 67.604 70.28
4 60.304 67.936 77.749 87.00
5 62"752 70"359 80-139 --
6 77.282 85.405 95.848 107.96

supported plate models D and E. Although the experimental node patterns and the
relative amplitudes by finite differences are determined for all models, here the results
are presented for model A in Figs. 7 and 8.
First mode Second m o d e

Third mode Fourth mode

Fifth mode Sixth mode

F r o . 7. N o d e p a t t e r n s in p l a t e m o d e l A.
Lp. 94
 Vibration of thin elastic plates of linearly variable thickness 95

-018 ' 0 6 4 'liO '129 '110 0 6 4 '018 .067 "166 '150 -.150-'166-'067

• 0 6 4 .211' '370 ' 4 3 3 '37 '217 '064 '200 '806 '468 -'468-'506-'200

'11 "37 ' 6 6 8 '1'94 ' 6 6 5 ;'37 '11 '323 "826 '841 -'841-'826 ,323

• 129 "435 ' 7 9 4 I ' 0 0 ' 7 9 4 .433 "|29 "372 '958 I'00 - 1.00-'958- ~72

First M o de 8ecood Mode

+ .191 ÷ .421÷ ,1HIS- - ,365- .421- .191 .0994 .356+ •497+.356+.099 /

÷ •4 2 l ~ I,O0÷ B 6 - , 8 9 6 - I.O0- ,421 4 .6264 1.00+.626 ~-,099

+ .368÷ . N ( H .929 - .929- ,896- ,365 ,589 S . 6 2 6 - , 3 8 6

- ,497- 1.0 - . 5 ~ ~ .589- 1.00- ,497

- .3(S84 •N 6 - • 92 9 •+ .9294 4196< .365 .356 - ,626 ~+ ° .626- ,Z166

-.421- 1.00-.896 + .656+ 1.004 .421 - .099 1.0 +~ - 099

- .191 - .421- .365 • ~366+ .421-1 191 099~ ,356+ .497+ .,386+

/ \
Third Mode Fourth Mode

+ .0014- "173+ ,173 + 146 4- .173 ÷ .r/'3 4 081 + .2551 ' 4 9 ~ ;.375 - ' 3 7 5 - •4 9 0 . . 2 5 5

+ '173+ ,363+ '282+~ ~ 3 + '282+ '363, "173 + .380~ ,774# 5 5 4 -~54- ,774- ,580

+ .173+ '282 o ,'eb"3"~ ~ - O E ~ .2824 173 + . o ~ - ,~o'~ 243 +-2"4~, ,006- .065

4-'1464- '16~- '387" I ' 0 - .367÷ .1684 b46 - .186- ,647- 1.00 .~ 1.00.* .6474 ,186
/ I

.. J

Fifth Mode Slsth Mode

FIO. 8. Relative amplitudes in plate model A.

96 B. BASAVA RAJU
TABLE 3. NATURALFREQUENCIESIN SIMPLYSUPPORTEDVARIABLETHICKNESSPLATES

Finite difference frequencies (oJ/o~r)

Exper.
Model Mode .~ = a / 6 .~ = a/8 Extrapolated frequency
frequency (w/oJr)

Model D 1 30.836 31.431 32.196 32.84

tedge = 2tcentre 2 72"505 75"263 78"809 80"03
3 122"643 122"163 121"544 128"63
4 130"412 134"064 138"759 139"55
5 124"479 136"759 152"549 145"85
6 175"524 189"524 207"523 --

Model E 1 13.534 13-567 13.568 14.20

tedge = ~tcentre 2 31"371 32"169 33"195 34"78
3 49"272 50"587 52"279 53"97
4 56"611 60"771 66"121 68"16
5 58"782 62"816 68"001 70"93
6 73"288 77"685 83"339 --

5. DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS

From Tables 2 and 3 it can be inferred t h a t the finite-difference method
converges fairly rapidly except for some higher modes, as in the case of fourth-
mode frequencies of plate models A and D. It seems desirable to use finer
grids than ~ = a / 6 in these cases. This is because the fourth mode imposes
additional constraints along the diagonals of the plate (the nodal lines) and this
would be equivalent to using a coarser grid than A = a / 6 . The extrapolated
values are higher than the values obtained for individual grid spacings. The
disagreement in the fundamental mode frequency varies from 1 to 3 per cent.
For higher modes, the difference between the experimental and finite-difference
frequencies is from 3 to 10 per cent.
While the errors in the determination of exact resonance, reading instruments
and vibration of supports are negligible, the errors due to the experimental
plate model being different from the ideal finite-difference model and the
support conditions being other than assumed m a y amount to a maximum of
6 and 4 per cent respectively in each case.
Large amplitudes of vibration introduce non-linearity in which frequency
of vibration is dependent on the amplitude of vibration, as contrasted with the
linear theory where frequency is independent of amplitudes. The influence
of large amplitudes on free vibrations of rectangular elastic plates has been
discussed theoretically by Chu and Herrmann. 4 The effect of large amplitudes
on the fundamental frequency in plate model B is studied experimentally and
the results are plotted in Fig. 9. Instead of amplitudes, the dynamic strain is
measured at a strain-gauge station situated close to the centre of the plate.
The frequency in terms of o~r is plotted against the dynamic strain. The
frequency remained constant up to a dynamic strain of 600/~ in./in. ; beyond
this point, the percentage increases in frequency for different dynamic strains
are indicated in Fig. 9. Since the amplitudes in all plate models are controlled
 Vibration of thin elastic plates of linearly variable thickness 97
to a level for which the dynamic strain is below 800~ in./in., the error due to
this source is within 1 per cent.

30 --

28

26

Frequency 19%
24

22

2o I I I I I I I
400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,4 O0 1,600 I,800
Oynomic Stroin ~4 in/in

FIG. 9. Effect of large amplitudes in plate model B.

The correction due to rotatory inertia and shear becomes more important
at higher modes. If the wavelength (the length of half-waves in which the plate
is subdivided) becomes less than 10 times the plate thickness, the classical plate
theory which neglects rotatory inertia and shear is very inaccurate. The effect
of rotatory inertia and shear in vibration of plates has been discussed by
Mindlin 5. The highest mode found in this study is the sixth mode for which the
wavelength is about 18 times the maximum thickness of the plate, and hence
no correction is made for rotatory inertia and shear.
In the vibration test, the plate model is vibrating in an air medium while
theoretical frequencies are referred to plates vibrating i n vacuo. The vibrating
plate induces a mass of air around it to vibrate and hence a correction for air
mass is justified. Barton e makes a crude approximation to correct the test
results for air mass b y finding an "equivalent" air mass which moves with the
plate on the basis of the theory of aerodynamic forces on an oscillating aerofoil.
Due to this effect, the frequencies determined b y experiment are estimated by
Barton to increase in small amounts and in some cases to an extent of about
1.5 per cent.
The node lines obtained experimentally are in fair agreement with those
calculated b y finite differences. The node patterns do not change from model
to model although the boundary conditions and thickness variations are different
for each model. However, the position of the point of maximum amplitude
varies for different models for some higher modes. For the fundamental mode
and the fifth mode, the maximum amplitude (maximum stress also) occurs
always at the centre of the plate, while for the third mode the point of
maximum amplitude is always at the quarter-point of the plate for all models.
98 B. BASAVARAJU
" U l t r a h a r m o n i c or m u l t i p l e h a r m o n i c resonance ''7 is a p h e n o m e n o n
usually o b s e r v e d in v i b r a t i n g plates in which the p l a t e v i b r a t e s w i t h a f r e q u e n c y
which is a n integral m u l t i p l e of t h e driving frequency. This t y p e of resonance
occurs w h e n e v e r a n " i m p u r e " applied force of f r e q u e n c y f is in resonance with
a s y s t e m whose f r e q u e n c y is an integral multiple o f f . T h e applied force in the
p r e s e n t case is a pressure p u l s a t i o n whose w a v e f o r m is triangular, b e c o m i n g
s a w t o o t h as the distance f r o m the source is increased. T h e a c t u a l m o t i o n of the
p l a t e a t r e s o n a n c e is essentially sinusoidal. T h e s a w t o o t h or t r i a n g u l a r wave-
f o r m can be o b t a i n e d b y a superposition of several sine h a r m o n i c functions.
A m o n g these higher h a r m o n i c s , if t h e r e exists a h a r m o n i c whose f r e q u e n c y is
t h e n a t u r a l f r e q u e n c y of t h e plate, t h e n this t y p e of resonance will occur. The
u l t r a h a r m o n i c resonance helps in finding t h e higher m o d e frequencies of the
p l a t e f r o m a s t r a i n - g a u g e signal, a l t h o u g h the forcing f r e q u e n c y is limited to
o n l y a s u b m u l t i p l e of the p l a t e frequency. Most of the m o d e s f o u n d in this
w o r k showed this t y p e of r e s o n a n c e ; a n d in p a r t i c u l a r the case in which the
p l a t e f r e q u e n c y is twice t h a t of t h e f r e q u e n c y of the pressure pulse is quite
c o m m o n . I n some cases t h e p l a t e v i b r a t e s a t a f r e q u e n c y which is 3 t i m e s the
driving frequency.

REFERENCES
1. V. P. KOGAEV, "Determination of the frequency and forms of the natural oscillations
of plates of variable thickness", Trudi. Mosk. Aviary. Tekhnol in. Ta. $5, 75-91 (1954).
2. V. S. GUMENYUK, "Free oscillations of plates of variable thickness", Dopovidi Akad.
Nauk (URSR) 2, 130-133 (1956).
3. B. BASAVA RAJU, "Bending and vibration in plates of variable thickness", Doctoral
Thesis, Michigan State University (1961).
4. Hu-NAN CHU and GEORGE HERRMANN. J. Appl. Mech. 532-540 (1956).
5. R. D. MINDLI~, J. Appl. Mech. 31-38 (1951-52).
6. M. V. BARTON,J. Appl. Mech. 18, 129-134 (1951).
7. C. A. LUDEKE, J. Appl. Phys. 13, 418-423 (1942).
8. N. J. NIELSEN, Bestemmelse af Spaendingcr I Plader. Copenhagen (1920).

APPENDIX
FINITE-DIFFERENCE EQUATION OF VARIABLE THICKNESS
PLATE DERIVED BY PLATE ANALOGY
In the plate analogy, the plate is replaced by an analogous structure which is made up
of a series of rigid bars and blocks joined by springs. The ends of the rigid bars are
connected to the blocks by means of springs which transfer only moments and shear
between the bars and the joint block, while the mid-points of the bars arc connected by
torsional springs which transmit only torsional moment. The loads (either static or
dynamic) are applied only at the joints. By considering the equilibrium of the free bodies
of the rigid bars and blocks (Fig. 10), the difference equation of a variable thickness
vibrating plate is derived as follows. The moments are taken about n of the rigid
bar on to obtain the equation

A2 Qo. = A M o , ~ - A M , , o +AM . . . . - A M . . . . (a)

The bending moments are expressed in terms of the plate rigidity at the joint and the
displaeements of the joints from the unloaded position. The torsional moments are
expressed in terms of the plate rigidity at the centre of the grid and the twist of the
 V i b r a t i o n of t h i n elastic plates of linearly v a r i a b l e thickness 99

surface, which is expressed in t e r m s of t h e displacements of t h e joints. T h e resulting

e q u a t i o n s are
Do
Mo,~ = - ~ i [(Wn - 2Wo + W,) + v(W~- 2Wo + W~,)]

D,~
M,,o = - ~i- [(W.,, - 2W,, + Wo) + v(Wn. - 2Wn + W.w)]
(b)

d/
/
/
/

;,!5 ,oo ,o.l o //• xMoe-s xQeo

// o, //
/ /
c/ ~M"
~M.so
___o
s.w
~ M ~.Mos.e //b

FIQ. 10. Forces acting on e l e m e n t s of analogous plate s t r u c t u r e at a

general p o i n t of a v a r i a b l e thickness plate.
The e q u a t i o n s (b) a n d (c) are s u b s t i t u t e d into (a) to o b t a i n
D,
AQo. = ~- [ - 8 o ( W . - 2wo +w,) - V S o ( ~ - 2wo + w,o)
+ 3 . ( w . . - 2w. + Wo)+ v3.(w..- 2w. + w.,o)
+ (1-v) 3~(wo+ w . , , - w ~ - w . )
- ( 1 - v ) 3.(w.+w.-wo-w..)] (d)
100 B. BASAVA RAJU

Similarly, considering the equilibriums of oe, os and ow, we o b t a i n

h ~ Qo~ = A M . o - A M o . + A M . . . . - A M . . . .
A2 Qo~ = AM~o - A M o . + A M . . . . - AM ....

A~ Qo~ = AMow-AM,~o + A M . . . . - A M . . . .
D,
AQo. = f f [ - 3.(W~ - 2W~ + Wo) - v3.(W~, - 2W~ + W,,~)
+ 8o(W,~ - 2we + w~o) + V~o(W~ - 2we + w . )
+ ( 1 - v ) 8~(W~ + W n - W o - W n ~ )
- (1 - v) 8b(W. + W e - W~- W.)]
D~
AQo. = ~ / [ - $,(W~.- 2W~ + We) - vS.(Ws. - 2W~ + W,w)
+ 8o(W~ - 2wo + w~) + V3o(W, - 2wo + w~)
+ (1 - v) 3~(w~ + W w - We - w ~ )
- (1 - ~) ~ ( w . , + W e - w ~ - w~)]
D.
AQow = ~ [ - ~o(w~ - ~Wo + Ww) - vSo(w~ - 2we + w . )
+ ~,~(Wo- 2W,o + W,o,o) + vS,~(W~, - 2Ww + Wn,~,)
+(1-v) 3a(Wo+Wnw-Ww-W,~)
- ( 1 - v) 3c(W. + Ww - We - W.w)] (e)

The equilibrium e q u a t i o n for the j o i n t block is g i v e n by

A(Qo,o-Qo,) +A(Qo,-Qo,) = qA2 (f)
where q is the i n t e n s i t y of loads for static problems. F o r d y n a m i c problems q is replaced
b y ptowoto ~. The values of the shear forces are s u b s t i t u t e d into e q u a t i o n (f), and
r e a r r a n g i n g t h e t e r m s t h e plate e q u a t i o n takes the p a t t e r n shown in Fig. 2.
Nielsen a obtains the difference e q u a t i o n of a variable thickness plate b y considering
t h e e q u i l i b r i u m of the plate e l e m e n t and his e q u a t i o n agrees w i t h the e q u a t i o n of Fig. 2.