Analytical solution for strain gradient elastic Kirchhoff rectangular plates under transverse static loading

Levy's analytical solution approach is extended for analysis of rectangular strain gradient elastic plates under static loading for the first time with different boundary conditions at the edges using the method of superposition. The governing equation of equilibrium and the corresponding classical/non-classical boundary conditions for strain gradient flexural Kirchhoff plate under static loading are considered. Numerical examples on static bending of Kirchhoff nanoplates involving five different combinations of simply supported, clamped and free edge boundary conditions are presented. The effect of negative strain gradient terms is of hardening nature thus resulting in decrease in the deflection. Plates with geometry comparable to the microstructural length scale show significant size effect and this size dependency diminishes with the increase in the plate size.