Influence of Rotatory Inertia and Shear on Flexural Motions of Isotropic, Elastic Plates

Abstract A two-dimensional theory of flexural motions of isotropic, elastic plates is deduced from the three-dimensional equations of elasticity. The theory includes the effects of rotatory inertia and shear in the same manner as Timoshenko’s one-dimensional theory of bars. Velocities of straight-crested waves are computed and found to agree with those obtained from the three-dimensional theory. A uniqueness theorem reveals that three edge conditions are required.