The Non Linear Bending Of A Clamped Circular Plate Under Uniform Normal Pressure

A theoretical and numerical analysis is presented for the elastic deflections and stresses of an initially flat circular plate with clamped fixed edge, under uniform normal pressure. In considering large deflection bending, i.e. deflections up to several thicknesses of the plate, we are led to two coupled partial differential equations which are given in the literature by Foppl and von Karman. We attempt an approximative solution of these equations by representing each of the unknown functions of these equations as a formal series of eigenfunctions. We choose the most natural set of eigenfunctions, the Bessel functions of index one, each of which individually satisfied all but one of the boundary conditions. We then calculate, by means of computer methods, deflection and stress results which turn out to be in strikingly good agreement with earlier theoretical and experimental results in the literature. All of this is accomplished with but a five or nine mode solution, which can be found with very little effort. (Author).