A multiple scales method solution for the free and forced nonlinear transverse vibrations of rectangular plates

In this paper, first, the equations of motion for a rectangular isotropic plate have been derived. This derivation is based on the Von Karmann theory and the effects of shear deformation have been considered. Introducing an Airy stress function, the equations of motion have been transformed to a nonlinear coupled equation. Using Galerkin method, this equation has been separated into position and time functions. By means of the dimensional analysis, it is shown that the orders of magnitude for nonlinear terms are small with respect to linear terms. The Multiple Scales Method has been applied to the equation of motion in the forced vibration and free vibration cases and closed-form relations for the nonlinear natural frequencies, displacement and frequency response of the plate have been derived. The obtained results in comparison with numerical methods are in good agreements. Using the obtained relation, the effects of initial displacement, thickness and dimensions of the plate on the nonlinear natural frequencies and displacements have been investigated. These results are valid for a special range of the ratio of thickness to dimensions of the plate, which is a characteristic of the Multiple Scales Method. In the forced vibration case, the frequency response equation for the primary resonance condition is calculated and the effects of various parameters on the frequency response of system have been studied.