ABSTRACT
A “thin plate” with in-plane dimensions a and b and thickness t is shown schematically in Figure 6.1. The plate can be considered “thin” if the plate thickness is less than about one-tenth the in-plane dimensions, that is, if t < a/10 and t < b/10. A x−y−z coordinate system is defined as indicated. Note that the origin of the x−y−z coordinate system is positioned at the geometric center of the plate, such that the midplane (or midsurface) of the plate lies within the plane z = 0. Consequently, the plate exists within the space defined by the planes z = −t/2 and z = +t/2.
