ABSTRACT
This chapter considers two-dimensional problems of increasing complexity. There are varying degrees of complexity encountered in laminated plate analysis. The chapter also considers bending under transverse load, buckling, and free-vibration of plates in the specially orthotropic category. It discusses the problems of bending and buckling of specially orthotropic plates. The chapter explores these problems only the static case and neglects any variation with respect to time. It describes the free vibration of a specially orthotropic simply- supported rectangular plate. The displacement functions chosen in conjunction with equation are the characteristic shapes of free vibration of a beam with fixed ends. The solution procedure is very similar to the approach utilized for the stability analysis of the same plates. The exact solution of the governing partial differential Equation for the natural modes of free vibration of specially orthotropic plates has been obtained only for the case of two or four sides simply-supported.
