Abstract:

ESDU 87036 provides curves for the deflection, for the central total stress at the surface of the unloaded face, for the membrane stress at the plate centre and, for all edges free, the maximum total stress or, for all edges fixed, the greater total stress at the mid point of and perpendicular to the plate edge. They were derived on the basis of thin plate theory and therefore apply for values of plate width/thickness ratio less than 20. They are reasonably accurate for ratios of initial central bow/plate width less than 0.1. The case when the plate "snaps through" under a loading applied to the convex face is also considered. A worked example illustrates the use of the method.