Generalized plane stress in a semi-infinite strip under arbitrary end-load

Abstract

The problem involves the determination of a biharmonic generalized plane-stress function satisfying certain boundary conditions. We expand the stress function in a series of non-orthogonal eigenfunctions. Each of these is expanded in a series of orthogonal functions which satisfy a certain fourth-order ordinary differential equation and the boundary conditions implied by the fact that the sides are stress-free. By this method the coefficients involved in the biharmonic stress function corresponding to any arbitrary combination of stress on the end can be obtained directly from two numerical matrices published here. The method is illustrated by four examples which cast light on the application of St Venant's principle to the strip. In a further paper by one of the authors, the method will be applied to the problem of the finite rectangle.