Large deflections of rectangular plates with transverse edges remaining straight

This note relates to the analysis of thin, elastic, rectangular plates. Each plate has symmetry about the transverse centre line, but the transverse form of displacement can take any form, depending on the degree of support (if any) along each longitudinal edge, and on the manner of loading. The lateral displacement is expressed as a series, each term of which involves the product of a sinusoidal term in the longitudinal direction ( x), and a general term in the transverse direction ( y). The von Karman/Marguerre compatibility equation is satisfied, and it is shown that this leads to a solution in which the transverse edges remain straight in-plane, but can rotate. This result is useful in the analysis of plates forming, for example, outstands, wide columns and deep beams.