Rayleigh – Ritz analysis of vibrating plates based on a class of eigenfunction

In the Rayleigh-Ritz condensation method the solution of the equation of motion is approximated by a linear combination of shape-functions selected among appropriate sets. Extensive literature dealing with the choice of appropriate basis of shape functions exists, the selection depending on the particular boundary conditions of the structure considered. This paper is aimed at investigating the possibility of adopting a set of eigenfunctions evaluated from a simple stucture as a general basis for the analysis of arbitrary-shaped plates. The results are compared to those available in the literature and using standard finite element analysis.