Analysis of plates reinforced with beams

Abstract

 In this paper a solution to the problem of plates reinforced with beams is presented. The adopted model takes into account the resulting inplane forces and deformations of the plate as well as the axial forces and deformations of the beam, due to combined response of the system. The analysis consists in isolating the beams from the plate by sections parallel to the lower outer surface of the plate. The forces at the interface, which produce lateral deflection and inplane deformation to the plate and lateral deflection and axial deformation to the beam, are established using continuity conditions at the interface. The solution of the arising plate and beam problems which are nonlinearly coupled, is achieved using the analog equation method (AEM). The adopted model describes better the actual response of the plate–beams system and permits the evaluation of the shear forces at the interface, the knowledge of which is very important in the design of composite or prefabricated ribbed plates. The resulting deflections are considerably smaller than those obtained by other models.