Bending problem of rectangular plates of unidirectional nonhomogeneity and variable thickness with two opposite edges simply supported under arbitrary distributed loads

Using the step reduction method^[1,2] suggested by the first author of this paper, we investigate the problem indicated in the title and obtain the stepped approximate solutions. As an example, the case of a square plate of linearly varying thickness with four edges simply supported under linearly distributed loads is calculated. The obtained results agree well with those given in [3] and thus the exactness of the new method is verified.Projects Suppotred by the Science and Technic Fund of the National Education Committee of the People's Republic of China.Although this paper has published in Journal of Lanzhou University, Special Number of Mechanics, No. 1, (1979) (in Chinese), it republishes here in order to correct some mistakes due to calculation.