On the optimal design of plates for a given deflection

The optimum design problem of an elastic plate for a given deflection is considered. The design variable is chosen to be the thickness of the plate. Using the principle of stationary mutual potential energy first introduced by Shield and Prager, a sufficient optimality condition (which makes the volume stationary) is derived for plates under bending caused by general loading conditions. As an example, the optimum profile of a simply supported circular plate under a given rotationally symmetric loading is obtained.