Free vibration analysis of the completely free rectangular plate by the method of superposition

While the subject of free vibration analysis of the completely free rectangular plate has a history which goes back nearly two centuries it remains a fact that most theoretical solutions to this classical problem are considered to be at best approximate in nature. This is because of the difficulties which have been encountered in trying to obtain solutions which satisfy the free edge conditions as well as the governing differential equation. In a new approach to this problem, by using the method of superposition, it is shown that solutions which satisfy identically the differential equation and which satisfy the boundary conditions with any desired degree of accuracy are obtained. Eigenvalues of four digit accuracy are provided for a wide range of plate aspect ratios and modal shapes. Exact delineation is made between the three families of modes which are characteristic of this plate vibration problem. Accurate modal shapes are provided for the response of completely free square plates.