Analysis of stress distribution in a thin rectangular plate by the method of caustics

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Authors

  • J. Wang Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, United States
  • R.C. Batra Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, United States
  • K. Isogimi Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIE University, Japan

Abstract

We discuss some characteristics of caustics in a rectangular plate loaded by distributed in-plane loads on a part of two opposite edges with the other two edges kept traction-free. It is assumed that plane state of stress prevails in the plate. The theoretical developments are valid for an arbitrary location of the reflective plane within the plate. A good agreement is found between the computed and observed caustics. A simple inverse problem of determining the intensity of the distributed load from the size of caustics is also investigated.