Effects of large amplitude and transverse shear on vibrations of triangular plates

In this paper an analytical investigation of large amplitude free flexural vibrations of isotropic and orthotropic moderately thick triangular plates is carried out. The governing equations are expressed in terms of the lateral displacement, w, and the stress function, F, and are based on an improved non-linear vibration theory which accounts for the effects of transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia. Solutions to the governing equations are obtained by using a single-mode approximation for w, Galerkin's method and a numerical integration procedure. Numerical results are presented in terms of variations of non-linear frequency ratios with amplitudes of vibrations. The effects of transverse shear, rotatory inertia, material properties, aspect ratios, and thickness parameters are studied and compared with available solutions wherever possible. Present results are in close agreement with those reported for thin plates. It is believed that all of the results reported here that are applicable for moderately thick plates are new and therefore, no comparison is possible.