A refined theory of elastic thick plates for extensional deformation

Based on elasticity theory, various two-dimensional (2D) equations and solutions for extensional deformation have been deduced systematically and directly from the three-dimensional (3D) theory of thick rectangular plates by using the Papkovich–Neuber solution and the Lur’e method without ad hoc assumptions. These equations and solutions can be used to construct a refined theory of thick plates for extensional deformation. It is shown that the displacements and stresses of the plate can be represented by the displacements and transverse normal strain of the midplane. In the case of homogeneous boundary conditions, the exact solutions for the plate are derived, and the exact equations consist of three governing differential equations: the biharmonic equation, the shear equation, and the transcendental equation. With the present theory a solution of these can satisfy all the fundamental equations of 3D elasticity. Moreover, the refined theory of thick plate for bending deformation constructed by Cheng is improved, and some physical or mathematical explanations and proof are provided to support our justification. It is important to note that the refined theory is consistent with the decomposition theorem by Gregory. In the case of nonhomogeneous boundary conditions, the approximate governing differential equations and solutions for the plate are accurate up to the second-order terms with respect to plate thickness. The correctness of the stress assumptions in the classic plane-stress problems is revised. In an example it is shown that the exact or accurate solutions may be obtained by applying the refined theory deduced herein.