An accurate two-dimensional theory of vibrations of isotropic, elastic plates

An infinite system of two-dimensional equations of motion of isotropic elastic plates with edge and corner conditions are deduced from the three-dimensional equations of elasticity by expansion of displacements in a series of trigonometrical functions and a linear function of the thickness coordinate of the plate. The linear term in the expansion is to accommodate the in-plane displacements induced by the rotation of the plate normal in low-frequency flexural motions. A system of first-order equations of flexural motions and accompanying boundary conditions are extracted from the infinite system. It is shown that the present system of equations is equivalent to the Mindlin's first-order equations, and the dispersion relation of straight-crested waves of the present theory is identical to that of the Mindlin's without introducing any corrections. Reduction of present equations and boundary conditions to those of classical plate theories of flexural motions is also presented.