Free Oscillations of Edge-Connected Simply Supported Plate Systems

Abstract

A simple semigraphical method for calculating the natural frequencies of two-plate systems is developed, a two-plate system being one made up of two rectangular plates simply supported at all edges and joined at a common edge. Charts for easy determination of the afore-mentioned natural frequencies are developed. One of these gives, as a by-product, the natural frequencies of rectangular plates (of any dimensions) having one edge clamped, the remaining three simply supported. It is demonstrated that the higher natural frequencies of two-plate systems are very nearly equal to those of the individual component plates. Equations for the mode shapes are also given.