New Accurate Flexural Analysis for Different Types of Plates in a Rectangular Sewage Tank by Utilizing a Unified Analytic Solution Procedure

In the present paper, a modified Fourier series approach is developed for new precise flexural analysis of three different types of concrete plates in a rectangular sewage tank. The bending problems of the bottom plate, side-plate, and the fluid-guiding plate are not easily solved via using the traditional analytic approaches. Based on the Fourier series theory, the present approach provides a unified semi-inverse solving procedure for the above plates by means of choosing three different kinds of Fourier series as the trial functions. Although all the trial functions are quite similar to the classical Navier-form solution, new, precise analytic flexural solutions for plates without Navier-type edge conditions (all edges simply-supported) are achieved, which is mainly attributed to employing the Stoke’s transform technique. For each case, the plate-bending problems are finally altered to deal with linear algebra equations. Furthermore, owing to the orthogonality and completeness of the Fourier series, the obtained solutions perfectly satisfy both the edge conditions and the governing partial differential equation of plates, which paves an easily implemented and rational way for engineers and researchers to provide new, exact designs of plate structures. The main contribution of this study lies in the provision of a unified solution procedure for addressing complex plate-bending problems across diverse boundary conditions. By employing a range of Fourier series types, this approach offers a comprehensive solution framework that accommodates the complexities inherent in plate analysis. The correctness of the present analytic solutions is verified against precise finite element method (FEM) results and ones available in the literature. Finally, the influences of foundation, edge conditions, and aspect ratio on flexural behaviors of plates are discussed in detail.

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