Free vibration analysis for plates with arbitrary boundary conditions using a novel spectral-dynamic stiffness method

An exact method for free vibration analysis of plates with arbitrary boundary conditions is presented. This is achieved by integrating the spectral method into the classical dynamic stiffness method. The formulation satisfies the governing differential equation exactly and any arbitrary boundary conditions are satisfied in a series sense. The Wittrick-Williams algorithm is enhanced with several elegant techniques to obtain solutions. The exactness and computational efficiency of the method are demonstrated by comparing results obtained from other methods. Finally, mathematical and physical insights are gained and significant conclusions are drawn for various analytical methods for free vibration analysis of plates.