ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the two limiting cases of the problem of the deflection of a flat diaphragm: large deflections; and very small deflections. In large deflections, the diaphragm operates as an absolutely flexible diaphragm. In very small deflections, the diaphragm operates in pure bending. A complete Solution to the problems of the flat diaphragm requires a calculation method which should be correct for any value of deflections so that the Performance characteristics may be estimated with a fair degree of accuracy. It has been shown that the increase of the deflection is accompanied by a change in the shape of the elastic surface of the diaphragms. The tangential stresses at any off-center point in the diaphragm are smaller than the radial stresses and become equal at the center. By adding the corresponding bending stresses to the tensile stresses, one can obtain the total radial and tangential stresses.
