On bending of strain gradient elastic micro-plates

Bending of strain gradient elastic thin plates is studied, adopting Kirchhoff’s theory of plates. Simple linear strain gradient elastic theory with surface energy is employed. The governing plate equation with its boundary conditions are derived through a variational method. It turns out that new terms are introduced, indicating the importance of the cross-section area in bending of thin plates. Those terms are missing from the existing strain gradient plate theories; however, they strongly increase the stiffness of the thin plate.