Applied Mathematics and Mechanics

(English Edition, Vol. 13, No. 7, .luly 1992)

Published by SUT,
Shanghai, China

B O U N D A R Y I N T E G R A L E Q U A T I O N S FOR THE B E N D I N G PROBLEM OF

P L A T E S ON T W O - P A R A M E T E R F O U N D A T I O N
Li Zheng-liang (~il! ~.)

Deng An-fu (~[;'C~r

{ Chongqing Institute o f Architecture and Enghu,erin.~. Chongqing)

(Received June 27, 1991: Communicated by Hsuch Dah-wei)

Abstract
By means o/'Fourier integral tran.~/ormation o f generali-ed/unclion, lhc /im<hmwntal
.~'olution./br the bending probh,m ~/plales on two-parameter./mmdation is derived in this
paper, and the./hndamental sohttion is e.vpamled into u un(/i~rmlv con vergent series. On the
basis t?/the above work, two houndglr|" integrtd c.~,uations which are suitable to arbitrary
shapes attd arhitrat3' boundar)' conditions are "established hy means r

Ra.vh'igh-Green

ith'ntitv. The content o f the paper provides the powetJid theoriesfor the application of BEM
in thL~ prohh, m.

Ke][ words

I.

two-parameter foundation, fundamental solution, special functions.

boundary integral equation

Introduction

The research work for analysis of the plates on elastic foundation can date back to last century.
During the period of one hundred years, many famous scholars, such as Timosheko, WoinshyKriger, Reissner, Vlazov et al., have made great efforts to research the analytical method, and a lot
of outstanding achievements have been obtained. But because of the limitations of the analytical
method, these achievements can only solve a small number of engineering problems. In the recent
twenty years, the BEM (boundary element method) has been widely used in many fields. For the
bending problem of plates on Winkle foundation, KatsikadelisI-~.~1used the fundamental solution
derived by Hertz or Wymanr~l and gave an application of BEM. But, to another more complicated
problem
the bending problem of plates on two-parameter foundation, because the fundamental
solution derived by Vlazov was not expressed as elementary function, the application of BEM is
very difficult. In Ref. [5],the fund~mlental solution which is expressed as Fot.rier-Bessel integral form
is handled by numerical integration, but, its accuracy can not be guaranteed effectively, In addition,
the theory of the establishing process for boundary integral equations are still not sufficient.
By means of the Fourier integral transformation of generalized function, the fundamental
solution for the problem which is expressed as Hankle function of complex variable is obtained in
this paper, and the fundamental solution is expanded into power series of real variable. The
uniformly convergence of the series is proved. On the basis of the above work. two boundary
integral equations for bending problem of plates on two-parameter foundation which are suitable to
arbitrary shapesandarbitrary boundary conditions are established, by using of the Raylcign-Green
identity. The content of the paper provides powerful theories for the application of BEM in this
problem.
657

658
II.

Li Zheng-liang and Dcng An-fu

Governing

Differential Equation

The governing differential equations of the plates on two-parameter lbundation can be

expressed as follows:

DVzV2w_ ~,~Vz w+kw=q

--,

or

Lw=q

(2. ] )

with L ( - . - ) = D v ' v ~ ( - - - ) - G p v 2 ( " " ) + k (..-)

where V 2 is the Laplacian, D the flexura! rigidity, q is the load per unit area,Gp, k are two elasticity
constants referred to property of soil, and for different soil model, the valueGp k are als~ ~!'"'rent.
The general soil models used in cngineering are Filonenko-Borodich model, Pasternak mot;, :
Vlazov model and Reissner model.
The boundary conditions can be written as:

w(s)--w.(s)=O~ O(s)--O.(s)=O

for clamped boundary;

w(s)-w.(s)=O, M(s)-M.(s)=O

for simply supported boundary;

V(s)-V.(s)=O,

for free boundary';

M(s)-M.(s)=O

U'

in which w is deflection, 0 is the rotation, M is the

normal flexure moment, V is the Kirchhoff
transeverse shear force, s is the curvlinear abscissa
oftheboundarycurve(FJg, l), w ~ 0 . , M . , V .
are the given values on boundary 1", and R is the
radius of curvature of the boundary (it is only
positive while the boundary curve is convex). Then,
the rotation, bending moment, twisting moment
and Kirchhoff transverse shear force can be
Fig. 1 Two-dirne,lsional dornainf2bounded
expressed as:
by the c u r v e 1" o c c u p i e d by t h e
plate (x is parallel to x t)
0(w)=

Kw
On

M(w)=-D[

Kz

VZ-(1-v)O--g~-]w

T(w)=--D(1-v)

KZw
dnK---7

(2.2)

K
V(w)=Q+_~T=_D[~___nV2+(]._v)
K g-rTK~'
K2 ] w
Ks
Notice that

in which f l = < n , r), O=(r, x ' ) , n means the normal direction of boundary, t means the
tangential direction of the boundary, as shown in Fig. 1.

The Bending Problem of Plates on Two-Parameter Foundation

III.

Fundamental

1. D e r i v a t i o n

659

Solution

of the fundamental

solution

Supposing that there is a unit concentrated force at point P ( ~ , r/) in a infinite plate, then the
fundamental solution must satisfy the following equation:

L w * = a ( x - ~ , y--r~)

(3.1)

where cS(x--~, y - r / ) is the Dirac function.

Let the Fourier integral transformation of generalized function be applied to Eq. (3. I), then,
the following result can be obtained:
1

w*=

r+==r+~ I

- ~ - J _ = J_: T e

x p (, [co,(x- ~) + co,(u- r/]) d~o,d,

(3.2)

in which 2,,=D(co~ +o9~ )Z+G,(a~[ +co{ ) + k

Letting

thus,

(3.3)

x -- ~-----r c o s r

col=o9c o s a ]r

y-- r/=rsin~b }

c02----cosina"

r = = ( x - - ~ ) 2 q - ( y - r / ) 2, coZ=co~+co~

dog~dwa=ogdcoda, i[cot(x-~)+co2(y-q) ] = i o . r
Then, Eq. (3.2) can be written as:
.

w =)'-~I
4~

+OO

Jn

~t

+1:~

---x~exp['to'r]dc-oda=~f

J-n

4~"

1
---r--codco.~..exp[it~.r]da

Jo

A~

"

if we introduce the expression of Bessel function

1

"

Jo(x) =-Tff-z I_ exp[ixcosfl]dfl

and rotate the polar axis, that is, taking r as a new polar axis (becausew*is only the function of r, so
rotating the polar axis does not influence the result of w*). Thus, the followmg expression is
obtained:
W.~__

1 r+~ Jo(cor).codco
-.

2,r Jo

l__L_[+:o
-- 2~rDJ0
Supposing that

~"

Jo(o~r)
co++Gpco2/D+k codo~

co++GpcoZ/D+k /D=O , for

a l , a~ are two roots of polynomial

general soft soil Ioundation, it can be usually affirmed that A----

condition, a~, a~ will be complex numbers affirmatively, namely,

ap

}=

G, - I I i k \

-Tff+T4

Therefore, Eq. (3.4) can be also written as:

(3.4)

z G, \~

) i

- 4D---<0, under

this

660

Li Zheng-liang and Deng An-fu

I.U 'Ir

2" , l ]
2Jra a,--a,L3o

~..2--u~
.2 c~176

,,,

Jo

--a'2

that is
1
w * = 4D d 4 ( k / D ) - ( G , / D f

EH~~176

(3.5)

Eq. (3.5) represents the fundamental solution which is expressed by Hankle function of
complex variable. In the deriving process of the fundamental solution expression (3.5), an integral
formula is applied:
+~oI0(bx)__,..

=i r-r~,)

3r

~01

where H~ '~ indicates the first kind of zeroth order Hankle function.
2. Series e x p r e e i o n o f H a n k l e f u n c t i o n
It can be known from Ref. [8] that
H~ 1>(z) =Y0(z) + i Y o ( z )

(3.6)

in which Yo(z)is the zeroth order Neumann function and ]o(Z)~ Yo(z) can be expressed as the
infinite series:
~--,(-- I) k
Jo(z)----kz.~o -(~-~ ( + ) "

yo(z)=2

(3.7/

j o ( z ) , m y z ---~2 .L;,o
~.~~(--1) k r

(+)"

(3.8)

1
where ~b(k-kl)=! - b - ~ q - . . - + T - C ,
where C B = 0 . 5772] ... is a Euler constant.
Therefore
Hi"

(z)=(]-l-=2--"lnz ),~-'~0 ( - . ' I ) '

~
2s. o o ( -- 1) k
-- ~-- : ~ ( - ~ v )2 ~ (k"l- 1 ) 9
k.

For any complex number z, letting

modular angle of z. Because of

,-~ % 2 k

(3.9)

. /

z=pexpEifl3 ~ p

is the modulus of z, fl is the

{ , 2 ) " = (--~-)" expE 2kcfli3=~P--) '" Ecos2kfl-Fisin2kfl3

substituting the above two equations into Eq. (3.9), we obtain
H , r (z) = R e H , ~t~(z) + i I m H 0 ~'~(z)
in which

(3.1o)

The Bending Problem of Plates on Two-Parameter Foundation

ReH~

( z ) - - - - ( 1 - 2 f l ) k ~ - (--1)k/P~
i,-~-]~2k eos2kfl

----2

i n ~-,@o
p ~-~ (--1)kip
~zk sin2kfl+ 2-~-~' (--1)k
-~!~r
(--~7.) k-2"]
r

I m H 0('(z)

----(I

k-O

661

"P "'* sin2kfl

(3.11)

"

. o0 (__1)k~p.z~

,.0

+ )

eos2kp
(3.i2)

Re and Im indicate separately the real part and imaginary part of the Hankle function.

3. Series e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s o l u t i o n
Assumng that

G, t .T ~1 / 4[ L. l~k-\ ) - L'-~--)
I G , \2 i----(p,exp [ifl,])=
a~ --------~-~-

(3.13)

a]=- 2DG"

(3.14)

2"~/-/4{k-D-]-k
1
.~

(~)'i=(p,

expEifl,])z

then, the following result can be obtained by comparing the above two equations:
Pt=Pz---- 4~/ k / D , flt-{-fls-----=

1~

./~_(k,~
" ~/
T k - ~ ' ] [.- kG,
~ ] .~' ' cosZpt= - ~ / G,
4Dk

sin2fl~=y

(3.15)

where p, and Pz are separately the moduli of at and as, fit and flz separately the modular angles of
a~ and as. Substituting the series expression (3. i 0) of H 0(1~(z) into expression (3.5) of the fundamental solution w* , the imginary part can disappear. So the following expression of w* is
obtained:
7./3 t * ~

[2

,ID#4(K/D) - (G,/D)V T ('es-'e') ~ (-(-AS

- 1)~{Vi-?
p,r 'l'* eos2kfl,
-

Ic-O

..

-~:--b~a' ~--~i~-f~--~---]

sin2kfl~

4 ~o ( _ !)k

. p,r

,k

(3.16)
Eq. (3. i 6) is just the series expression of the fundamental solution for bending problem of
plates on two-parameter foundation. It can be provexi that if G p = 0 in Eq. (3.16), the fundamental
solution becomes
w*=--Kei ( p,r) / (2xDp~ )
(3.17)
because of fl,----.~-,

fh=7

Eq. (3.17) represdnts the fundamental solution for bending problem of plates on Winkle
foundation, it is just the same as the fundamental solution derived by Wymanm, in which Kei (p,r)
is Kelvin function of zeroth order. This conclusion also shows that expression (3.16) of the
fundamental solution is dependable.
By means of th~ Cauchy-Hadamard criteriontg] for convergence of power series, it is known

662

Li Zheng-liang and Deng An-fu

that every term in the right-hand side of Eq. (3.16) is'uniformly convergent for any0~<r< +oc.
It needs to be explained that it is necessary to retain the term In ( p , r / 2 ) o f the series expression,
but not to expand it into power series again, because it Can be known that r---- 0is a singular point of
w* according to this term. It is widely used in the application of BEM
IV.

Integral R e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f S o l u t i o n

Eq. (2.1) can be transferred into an equivalent form of integral equation. Considering the
integral equality:

IIo(w*Lw-wLw*)d~
=II(Dw*v'vZw-G,w*V2W+ kw*w
-- Dwv2V2W* +Gpwv~w * - k w. w* )dg-J
that is,

~ (v,* Lw- wLw*)d~

for any two functions, w and v which are four times continously differentiable inside region ~ ,
and three times on its boundary F , the Rayleigh-Green identity is

II(vV'V'w--wv'v2v)d~
Jr

0n

- -0-~-- V

wt~.

and Green identity is

where F is the bounday of domain ~ .

Applying the Rayleigh-Green identity and Green identity to Eq. (4.1), moreover, considering
Eq. (2. I) and Eq. (3. !), the integral representation of solution for bending problem of plates on twoparameter foundation can be obtained:

w(p)=il w*.qd~-D ir ( w ~-~

O

0 V2W*-- Ow*'O.n. V'W

'T#--

-~-J

(4.2)

where pqfi.Q.
Applying Eq. (2.2), the following equality can be proved:

DIr(W.~n.,V w-w~-~
cl

VZW.

Ow*
z 9 Ow -z .\,r.
On V m+--fffi-V w ] a J

= I r w * V ( w ) d F - I r wV(w*)dF-

Jr--O-n'(0w*M(w)dF+ Jr~ OW-M(w*)dFo:,

(4.3)

The Bending Problem of Plates on Two-Parameter Foundation

663

Thus, the integral representation of solution for bending problem of plates on two-parameter
foundation can be expressed as:

Ow*
in which

[IQqw*d~

OW

w*

(4.41

is an integration term in domain ~ , and the kernel functions in Eq. (4.4) are

referred to the Appendix.

V.

Boundary Integral Equations

Before deriving boundary integral equation, it is necessary to study the properties of the
fundamental solution (when r ~ 0 ) further.
Let
oo

uo(r)=2(fl=_[3D ~ (--1)hi plr h="cos2kfl,

..o 7ET,) V T - !

4 . plr ,Y--,(-1)~[ p~r \ "

- ~ - - m-~---2_, , , - 7 ~ , ~--f-- I
z #-0 ~,KI)
z /

~--z.~ (---k~yrl)r
k-o

7- , - -

sin2kfll

(5.1)

[J

A----1/4D~/4(k / D )
thus: w*----A.uo(r)
Apparently, while r-~O , the function
lim

sin2kfl,

u0(r)

(5.2)

- (G,/D) =

(5.3)
behaves the following approximation:

Uo(r)f2(fl, - ill)

r--*O

u[ (r)~.-~(fl,-- flD(~)2.rcos2flt + ~ ( ~ ) Z r (

2ln%f-1

)sin2fll

--~-~(2)(-~)Zrsin 2fl,
u"~(r)'~ 4--'-~(flz--flt)('~") z cOs2[3' q-4 \ 2 , \

2 1 1 1 % - t - 3 )sin2fl,

-8~(2)(-~)'sin2fl,
8 .
l p x2 1
a** ( r ) ' - - ~ - s * n Z f l , ~ - )
-7-

u~,~(r).~_8sin2fl, [p,~=7 1r
For integral equation (4.4), let p-.P6F, then, the boundary integral equation usually can be
obtained. But, while P->PEf, every term in Eq. (4.4) except for the integration in domain $'2 will be

664

Li Zheng-liang and Deng An-fu

a singular integral. Therefore, their existence and continuity must be proved separately. That is,
studying the following integrals:

I,=I

(w>dr= I:o(r)v (w>dr

I2=j7--tgw
~ * M (w)dr=AI U'o(r)M(w)cos3dF
l~= I r % ~ M (w*) +G,w* 3dF= AIr O~--~n - D~ (cos'fl +vsin'fl)a",

1,=AIrw[V(w. ) + G,---~-]dI"
Ow*
=AIrw{--Dcosfl(u: ++u"O-rl--ru'~)-D(l~ v)

[sinflsin2fl

-7".t]

-7~176
+G,u'o (u)cosB}dF

At point PE/", making a tiny circular arc and taking P as its center, the radius of the circular arc is e.
Thus, on boundaryF0, cos fl = 1, sin fl -- 0. (because of the same direction of r and n ) and r = e
For each integral above, because the first term in the right-hand side of the following identity

Ir (...)dF=lim~r '

(-..)dF+lim~

(...)dF

has not involved singularity, it is only necessary to study the second term in the right-hand side of
the identity.
With the help of the approximation of the function uo(r), the following conclusions can be
proved (because the values of V(w) ,M(w) ,dw/dn and w are all limited):
lim[
r

Jr~

lim{
e~O dro

uo(r)V(w)dI"=O
u~(r)M(w)cosfldF=O

l i m ( Ow ~-D[(cosZfl+vsin'fl)u,~(r)+(ginafl+vcos,fl)_~]
,.-o J On t

+GoU~(r) }dl-'----O
Therefore, the integrals I,, I: and 13 exist, and are continuous as p ~ P E F . They can be integrated
under proper sense.
For integral term I :
I:=limA.J

e-.o

w{-Dcosfl(u~,+)!-u" o-Tuo)
1 ,\
ro
r

D(1-v)

9[ sinflsingfl

The Bending Problem of Plates on Two-Parameter Foundation

X(Ug--~-uO"+r-~U~)+ 2cos2fl( c~

'

665

by means of con fl= 1, sin fl=O, R=r-----e and substituting the approximate expressions of
u~, uxo, u*0 into the above integral term, it can be written as:

G,u~dF

+limA.~
9 ~ "'* 0

~'

Moreover, because of l i r a

A i

e'-'~O

G, . u'odF=O

, therefore

Pe

I : = - AD16sin2fl,(P']21im
Jr "
X 2 ] ~-o It. !wdr
r
16

pl z

l " -- ] " # ~

t ~

ne~

0
o

Fig. 3 A tiny circular arc at point P on

boundary used to r e m o v e the
singularity of the integrals

Fig. 2 M o v i n g of a point from

pto P

Substituting the values of A, p~ and sin2flj into the above equality, the following result is
obtained:

11=

2sr--a w(P)
2:r

(5.4)

in which a is the internal angle of tangent line at point P on boundary F , as shown in Fig. 2. For
smooth boundary,a-----:r. Therefore, integral I 4 exists, but is discontinuous as p~P6.I" because
there is a jump value at point

P, I]=

According to these analyses,

2~-a w(P)
2x
while p ~ P , the following

boundary integral equation is

obtained:

C(P).w(P)=IIQ qw'd~+fr va'V(w)d]-'-Ir w[V(w')+G, ~-n ]dF

jp

tln

.I P ~ t l

666

Li Zheng-liang and Deng An-fu

in which C(P)=a/2~r, and for smooth boundary,C(p)=]/2.

In addition, by differentiating Eq. (4.4) with respect to the outward normal np to the boundary
at point P and letting p~P, The second boundary integral equation can then be obtained:

C(P) Ow(P)
Onp =IIo qw~dO+ ~r w~V(w)- Ir to[ V (w~) + Gp ~cgw~
j ]dF

d--~--EM(w'~)+Gpto'~]dF

_ [ Ow~ M ( w ) d F + [
Jr an
jr on

(5.6)

All kernel functions in Eq. (5.5) and Eq. (5.6) are referred to the Appendix.
It needs to be explained that in the above two boundary integral equations, the term induced by
the discontinuity of the twisting moment on non-smooth boundary has not been taken into account.
But it can be easily solved for the case by adding the term into the right-hand side of Eq. (5.5) as well
as Eq. (5.6) directly.
VI.

Conclusions

By means of Fourier integral transformation of generalized function as well as some property

of special functions, the fundamental solution for the bending problem of plates on two-parameter
foundation is derived in this paper. The whole process for establishing the boundary integral
equations is given. The significance of the paper is also embodied in this aspect that the fundamental
solution and the two boundary integral equations derived in this paper are also suitable to the
bending problem of plates on Winkle foundation (while Gp----0 ). As long as the problem is
determined, the numerical calculation may be carried out by discretizing the two boundary integral
equations properly, that is, the numerical results of engineering problems are obtained by using
BEM.

Acknowledgement

The writers wish to express their thanks to Professor Chen Shan-lin for
his sincere help, encourgrnent and valuable advice.

Appendix
Kernel functions in Eq. (5.5) or Eq. (4.4) are as follows:

w*=Auo(r)
~-n =Aud(r)cosB
M (to')= -

DA[(cosZfl+ vsinZfl)uo', ( r ) +

V(w~176

(s irtZfl+vcosZfl)~]

"uo'(r)]

Kernel functions in Eq. (5.6) are as follows:

wa~= Auol( r ) eosq~

r

The Bending Problem of Plates on Two-Parameter Foundation

667

9 l+v\
D(~--V)A{ u~'(r)coscp(cos2~+~_v]

M(w,')=

~'

"

cos (2fl-- ~0)-- cosq~~

+ sing, s i n2/5']

D ( l - v ) A{sin[3sin2/3cosqou~o~r(r)-- sin,8[ sin(2/5'--q9)- cos2/3sirt~0 ]

2
X(+u

(r)-r2-T-uu"(r)+2u"'(r))
+
. r.,

coSflr u" "r)sil,2/3simpt

cos/3
1' t u " (r)--luo '(r) )[cos(2/3--q~)-l-cos2/3cosq)]
r t"~-o
+2( cos/3
r

1 \[- ,,.(,r ) cos2/3c os~p-- (cos(2/3--~p) + sin2/3s in,p)

.-~-)LUo

u~( r)--r-'7.

in which /3= <n, r>, ~v--<n., r>, /~ is the radius of curvature of the boundary curve, as shown in
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.
References

[I ] Selvadurai, A. P. S., Elastic Analysis of Soil-Foundation-Interaction. Eisevcer Scientific

Publishing Co. (1979).
[ 2 ] Katsikadelis, J. T. and A. E. Armenakas, Plates on elastic foundation by BIE method, J.
Engng. Mech., 110,7 (1984), 1086- i 105.
[ 3 ] Katsikadelis, J. T. and A. M. Armenakas, Analysis of clamped plates on elastic foundation by
the boundary integral method equation method, J. Appl. Mech.. ,54 (1984) 544- 580.
[ 4 ] Bezine, G., A new boundary element method for bending of plates on elastic foundation, Int.
J. Solids & Structures, 24, 6 (1988), 557-565.
[5 ] Puttonen, Jari and Pentti Varpasuo, Boundary element analysis of a plates on elastic
foundations, Int. J. Numer. Mech. in Engineering, 23 (1986), 2 8 7 - 303.
[ 6 ] Vlazov, V. Z. and U. N. Leontiev, Beams, Plates. and Shells on Elastic Foundations. Israel
Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem (translated from Russian) (1966).
[ 7 ] Du Qing-hua, et al., Boundao' Integral Equation Method-Boundary Element Method. China
Advanced Educational Press (1989). (in Chinese)
[ 8 ] Wang Zhu-qi and Guo Dun-ren, An Introduction to Special Functions, China Scientific Press
(1979). (in Chinese)
[-9] Math. department of Jilin University of China, Mathematics Analysis (11), China People's
Educational Press (1978). (in Chinese)