Boundary Layer Phenomena in Large Deflection, Small Strain Plate Theory

Abstract

Boundary layers exist at the edges of thin plates undergoing large deformations because the interior of the plate must assume a developable shape. The developable shape is sometimes incompatible with the force and moment resultants prescribed at the plate’s boundary, in particular when the edge of the plate is stress free. A boundary layer solution is presented which describes the shape of a boundary layer in a plate undergoing large deflections. The boundary layer is a slight perturbation of the interior shape which allows the appropriate boundary conditions to be satisfied. Since developable shells are applicable to a plane, the boundary layer is also appropriate for arbitrary developable shells.