The Influence of the Shape and Rigidity of an Elastic Inclusion on the Transverse Flexure of Thin Plates

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of several types of inclusions on the stress distribution in elastic plates under transverse flexure. An “inclusion” is defined as a close-fitting plate of some second material cemented into a hole cut in the interior of the elastic plate. Depending upon the properties of the material of which it is composed, the inclusion is described as rigid or elastic. In particular, the solutions presented will deal with the effects of circular inclusions of differing degrees of elasticity and rigid inclusions of varying elliptical form. Since the rigid inclusion and the hole are limiting types of elastic inclusions, and the circular shape is a special form of the ellipse, plates with either a circular hole or a circular rigid inclusion are important special cases of this discussion. It is hoped that the present analysis of several types of inclusions will aid in a future study of perforated plates stiffened by means of reinforcing rings fitted into the holes.