AN APPROXIMATE SOLUTION FOR PLATES RESTING ON WINKLER FOUNDATION

In many engineering structures transmission of vertical or horizontal forces to the foundation is a major challenge. The problem may be simplified if an accurate finite grid solution is devised for plates on elastic foundations. The main propose of this article is to develop an approximate but computationally manageable finite grid solution of plates as an application of finite element method. In this method each discrete element utilized is equipped with an exact solution for a beam element on a Winkler foundation. Conceptually, the solution can be defined as an extension of the discrete parameter approach where the physical domain is bro ken down into discrete sub-domains, each endowed with a property suitable for the purpose of mimicking problem at hand.