Large-Deflection Solution Of The Coaxial-Ring-Circular-Glass-Plate Flexure Problem

Non-linear deflections and radial surface stresses in then elastic circular plates laterally deformed into symmetrical concave shapes are analysed. Each plate is loaded with a small centre ring while on a ring of nearly its own diameter. The rings and plate are coaxial. Centre deflections up to 3 and 4.5 times the plate thickness were predicted for ring-diameter ratios of 0.5 and 0.2 respectively. The predicted deflection profiles at various loads agreed quite well with those's determined experimentally on a chemically strengthened glass plate. This analysis provides a new direction for using the coaxial-ring loading method.