The flexural rigidity of a thin plate reinforced with periodic systems of separated rods

A two-dimensional model of the flexure of a thin plate, reinforced with periodic families of separated thin rods, symmetrical about the middle plane, is constructed. Since the rods only interact through the pliable matrix material, the algorithm for constructing the asymptotics is essentially different from the classical procedure in the theory of composite plates and leads to new results. Explicit formulae are obtained for the coefficients of the fourth order differential equation which arises.