Large deflections of rectangular plates

Approximation of large, non-linear deflections of rectangular plates by a Fourier cosine series and evaluation of the resulting energy expressions leads to highly accurate results for maximum plate deflection. Consideration of non-linear terms which arise in the expression for membrane energy leads to a stiffer plate behavior resulting in considerably smaller deflections than can be accounted for by the classical small-deflection theory and by some modern approaches to largedeflection analysis. Results compare favorably to infinite element analysis results. Various boundary conditions are considered.