Free vibration analysis of rectangular plates with symmetrically distributed point supports along the edges

In this paper a highly accurate mathematical technique for establishing the free vibration eigenvalues and mode shapes of rectangular plates with symmetrically distributed point supports is introduced. The method is based on the principle of superposition and it constitutes, in essence, an extension of a technique described earlier for the analysis of completely free plates. Eigenvalues, covering numerous modes and aspect ratios, are tabulated for corner supported rectangular plates. It is seen that with some modifications the method is equally applicable to problems where the point supports are not symmetrically distributed.