Large deflection of Reissner-Mindlin plates on elastic foundations

A large deflection analysis is presented for a rectangular Reissner-Mindlin plate with free edges exposed to a stationary temperature field, subjected to a transverse partially distributed load, and resting on a two-parameter (Pasternak-type) elastic foundation. The formulations are based on the Reissner-Mindlin plate theory, considering the first-order shear deformation effect and including the plate-foundation interaction and thermal effects. The analysis uses a mixed Galerkin-perturbation technique to determine the load-deflection curves and load-bending moment curves. Numerical examples are presented that relate to the performances of moderately thick plates with free edges subjected to combined loading and resting on Pasternak-type elastic foundations from which results for Winkler elastic foundations are obtained as a limiting case. In this study, the influence is affected by the foundation stiffness, transverse shear deformation, loaded area, plate aspect ratio, and initial thermal bending stress. Typical results are presented in dimensionless graphical form for different parameters and loading conditions.