ABSTRACT
A plate is a flat structural element for which the thickness is small compared with the surface dimensions. The thickness is usually constant but may be variable and is measured normal to the middle surface of the plate. A shell is an initially curved plate defined by a middle surface about which a constant or variable thickness is symmetrically situated. A typical ratio of the shell thickness to its radius of curvature is of the order of 1:20. This chapter provides solutions to some problems of elastic plates and shells in which the deflections are small. Generally, plates and shells are subjected to in-plane forces, and to forces and couples normal to the surface, which are called lateral loading. In many applications, the temperature is not uniform throughout the plate thickness. Circular plates subjected to axisymmetric transverse loading are encountered in engineering applications, such as flat heads of pressure vessels, cylinder covers, pistons, valve disks, column bases, and disk springs.
