Nonlinear bending analysis of orthotropic rectangular plates by the method of differential quadrature

The behavior of thin, rectangular, orthotropic elastic plates, with immovable edges and undergoing large deflections, is investigated by the numerical technique of differential quadrature. Approximate results are obtained, using the Newton-Raphson method and, alternatively, a finite-difference-based method to solve the nonlinear systems of equations. Bending stresses, membrane stresses, and deflections are calculated for plates with fully clamped and simply supported flexural edge conditions under uniform pressure loading. Results are compared with existing analytical, numerical, and experimental ones. The present method gives good accuracy and is computationally efficient.