| Abstract: | The numerical solution of the biharmonic equation in a rectangular domain is presented in the context of continuous dynamic programming techniques. The equations are specialized to the solution of elastic rectangular plates. A suitable approximate expression of a certain functional equation containing derivatives only in one direction is used to derive equations for the stiffness and flexibility matrices of the plate. It is shown that those matrices satisfy matrix Riccati equations subject to suitable initial conditions. It is also shown that the condition of optimality in the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation directly expresses a classical variational principle, i.e. the principle of complementary energy. Some numerical examples are finally presented. |
