Numerical differential quadrature method for Reissner/Mindlin plates on two-parameter foundations

Approximate solutions for the bending of moderately thick rectangular plates on two-parameter elastic foundations (Pasternak-type) as described by Mindlin's theory are presented. The plates are subjected to an arbitrary combination of clamped and simply-supported boundary conditions. An efficient computational technique, the differential quadrature (DQ) method, is employed to transform the governing differential equations and boundary conditions into a set of linear algebraic equations for approximate solutions. These resulting algebraic equations are solved numerically. In this study, the accuracy of the DQ method is established by direct comparison with results in the existing literature. The convergence properties of the method are illustrated for different combinations of boundary conditions. The deflections, moments and shear forces at selected locations are tabulated in detail for different elastic foundations. The efficiency and simplicity of the solution method are highlighted. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.