Natural frequencies and mode shapes of flexural vibration of plates: laser-interferometry detection and solutions by Ritz's method

This paper presents an experimental and theoretical study of flexural symmetric vibration modes of a linear elastic plate. A laser interferometer is used as detector of the free vibration of a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped aluminium plate. The vibration spectrum gives the lowest natural frequencies of the sample. Assumption that the vibration of the plates may be described by some approximate theories is proven to be inconsistent. The Ritz method, with products of powers of the co-ordinates as basis functions, is applied to obtain the lowest flexural natural frequencies. Three-dimensional solutions are obtained, unlike those provided by simpler theories. The experimental results are compared with the numerical predictions and a good agreement is obtained. Finally, forced motion is applied to the centre of the plate and the out-of-plane and in-plane displacement components for the first symmetric mode are measured. A good fit of the calculated values to the experimental values is found.