İMO Teknik Dergi, 2018 8317-8338, Paper 501

Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation

Interaction Subjected to Moving Load Using Vlasov
Model*

Korhan ÖZGAN1

ABSTRACT
In this study, dynamic behavior of laminated orthotropic plates on elastic foundation is
investigated adapting the three-parameter subsoil model. Analysis of the system is performed
by using the software SAP2000 combining with MATLAB code for calculation of soil
parameters for modified Vlasov model. A computing tool is coded in MATLAB for the
purpose, allowing data exchange between SAP2000 and MATLAB via Open Application
Programming Interface (OAPI) feature. The consistency of the proposed model is shown by
a numerical example taken from the literature. Subsequently, the effects of lamination
scheme, various lamination angles, lamination number, subsoil depth, elasticity modulus of
subsoil, plate thickness and the velocity of moving load on the behavior of laminated
orthotropic plates on elastic foundation are investigated. It is concluded that it is a convenient
approach to use OAPI feature of SAP2000 to model the complex behavior of laminated
orthotropic plates on elastic soil, under moving loads.
Keywords: Moving load, elastic foundation, laminated orthotropic plate, OAPI.

1. INTRODUCTION
The analysis of engineering structures in contact with subsoil is still important today.
Especially in recent years, rapid developments in the industry and use of composites in the
sector caused an increase in the studies on soil-structure interaction. For years, the
relationship between soil and structure is investigated by modeling as plate or beam on elastic
foundation. Beams or plates on elastic foundation are used in many engineering areas such
as aerospace industry, mechanical engineering, dentistry, liquid and gas transmission lines,
aircraft hangars, airfields, highway and railway pavements. Railways, highways and airfield
pavements are usually subjected to traversing moving loads such as wheel loads from moving
vehicles and planes. It is therefore interesting and important for engineers to understand the
dynamic behavior of the plates or beams on elastic foundations before their structural design.

Note:
- This paper has been received on September 21, 2017 and accepted for publication by the Editorial
Board on February 07, 2018.
- Discussions on this paper will be accepted by May 31, 2018.
 DOI: 10.18400/tekderg.339219

1 Karadeniz Technical University, Dep. of Civil Engineering, Trabzon, Turkey - [email protected]

Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

Dynamic behavior of plates resting on elastic foundations subjected to moving loads has been
studied by researchers for many years incorporating various types of soil models. Kim and
Roesset [1] investigated the dynamic response of an infinite plate on Winkler-type elastic
foundation subjected to constant amplitude or harmonic moving loads. Huang and
Thambiratnam [2] developed a procedure incorporating the finite strip method and a spring
system for the dynamic response of plate resting on an elastic foundation, subjected to
moving loads. Kim [3] investigated the stability and dynamic displacement response of an
infinite thin plate resting on a Winkler-type or a two parameter elastic foundation subjected
to in-plane static compressive forces and a distributed moving load with a constant velocity.
Lu et al. [4] examined vibration behavior of a plate on a two-parameter foundation subjected
to moving rectangular loads of varying velocities.
On the other hand, composite materials are widely used in various fields of engineering like
aerospace, naval, automotive and civil, owing to high strength or stiffness sections for lower
weight using various fiber orientations and lamination schemes. Accordingly, studies on
laminated orthotropic plates subjected to moving load had been carried out by many authors.
Wang [5] developed a mixed finite element formulation based on the Mindlin-Reissner plate
theory for a moving orthotropic thin plate. Zhu and Law [6] analyzed the dynamic behavior
of an orthotropic plate under moving load using Lagrange equation and modal superposition.
Alisjahbana [7] presented an approximate method for determination of the natural
frequencies and mode shapes of rectangular clamped orthotropic plates subjected to dynamic
moving loads. Lee and Yhim [8] performed dynamic analysis of single and two-span
continuous composite plate structures subjected to multi-moving loads. Law et al. [9]
investigated the problems of identification of moving loads on a three-dimensional bridge
deck. Hatami et al. [10] studied free vibration of axially moving symmetrically laminated
plates subjected to in-plan forces using the classical plate theory. Ghafoori and Asghari [11]
investigated the dynamic response of angle-ply laminated composite plates traversed by a
moving mass or a moving force. Malekzadeh et al. [12] presented a solution procedure based
on the three-dimensional elasticity theory for the dynamic response of cross-ply laminated
thick plates subjected to moving load. Thai et al. [13] investigated static, free vibration, and
buckling behavior of laminated composite plates using the first-order shear deformation
theory. Chen et al. [14] studied the dynamic instability of laminated composite plates under
thermal and arbitrary in-plane periodic loads using first-order shear deformation plate theory.
Patel [15] studied the geometric nonlinear bending behavior of laminated composite stiffened
plates subjected to uniform transverse loading.
However, combination of laminated orthotropic material properties with subsoil effects at
the same time in a study is very rarely found. Özçelikörs et al. [16] presented new functional
and finite elements for interaction of orthotropic plate-foundation using the Gateaux
differential and Pasternak type elastic foundation model. Pradhan and Kumar [17] studied
vibration of orthotropic single layered graphene sheets embedded in Winkler-type and
Pasternak-type elastic medium using nonlocal elasticity theory and differential quadrature
method. Akgoz and Civalek [18] performed geometrically nonlinear free vibration analysis
of thin laminated plates resting on non-linear elastic foundations. Vosoughi et al. [19]
investigated dynamic response of moderately thick antisymmetric cross-ply laminated
rectangular plates on Pasternak type elastic foundation using higher order shear deformation
theory. Afsharmanesh et al. [20] solved buckling and vibration characteristics of circular
laminated plates under in-plane edge loads and resting on Winkler-type foundation by the

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 Korhan ÖZGAN

Ritz method. Mantari et al. [21] presented a free vibration analysis for functionally graded
plates resting on Pasternak type elastic foundation using a quasi-3D hybrid type HSDT with
5 unknowns. Alipour [22] developed a new analytical approach for bending and stress
analysis of angle-ply laminated composite and sandwich plates on non-uniform elastic
foundation. Studies on laminated orthotropic plates on three parameter elastic foundation
subjected to moving load have not been encountered yet in the literature.
As the first attempt, dynamic response of laminated orthotropic plates on elastic foundation
under moving load is studied by using modified Vlasov foundation model. SAP2000 [23]
software for the finite element analysis of soil-structure system with MATLAB [24] software
for the calculation of soil parameters according to modified Vlasov model were used
simultaneously. A computing tool was developed to provide two-way data exchange between
SAP2000 and MATLAB by employing Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI)
feature of SAP2000 software. Further, the effects of lamination scheme, various lamination
angles, lamination number, subsoil depth, elasticity modulus of subsoil, plate thickness and
velocity of moving load on the behavior of laminated orthotropic plates on elastic foundation
were examined.

2. SAP2000 OPEN APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE

With OAPI feature, the user is able to access SAP2000 by an external application with help
of any supporting programming language such as Visual Basic, Microsoft Excel and
MATLAB. It also allows users to build, analyze and design and to obtain analysis and design
results. Structural model may be created via SAP2000 software. Any information for the
structural model may be sent to SAP2000 with OAPI using a programming language. The
desired features of SAP2000 may be accessed and performed for analysis or design. Analysis
or design results of SAP2000 into any application may be transferred. In other words, finite
element analysis is performed by SAP2000 and the results can be utilized by an external
application [23].
In this study, SAP2000 was used interactively with a computing tool coded in MATLAB
using OAPI functions for the analysis of laminated orthotropic plates on elastic foundation
according to the modified Vlasov model.

3. THEORETICAL FORMULATION AND FEM MODEL

If modified Vlasov model is used to model soil structure interaction, the dynamic equation
of the plate receiving vertical reaction of the subsoil into account without damping can be
written as,

 2 w  x, y , t 
D w  x, y, t   2t w  x, y, t   kw  x, y, t   m
4 2
 p  x, y, t  (1)
t 2
where w, m and p denote vertical displacement of the plate, mass density and the magnitude
moving load respectively. k and 2t depict subgrade reaction modulus and shear deformation

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

parameter of the subsoil. Value of  and  coefficient for Newmark- method used for time
integration of Eq.(1) are taken as 0.5 and 0.25 respectively [25].
If , , ) is zero in Eq.(1), free vibration equation of a plate on elastic foundation is
obtained.
Subsoil reactions of elastic foundation to a plate may be given by equation below depending
on the displacement function w of the subsoil surface when modified Vlasov model is
considered.

  2 w  x , y , t   2 w  x, y , t  
qz  kw  x, y, t   2t    (2)
 x 2 y 2 

Subgrade reaction modulus (k) and shear deformation parameter (2t) of subsoil for modified
Vlasov model in above expression may be defined as

Es 1  s     z  
Hs 2

k 
0 1  s 1  2 s   z 
dz (3)

Hs
E
 2 1    z 
2
2t  s
dz (4)
0 s

where Hs, and s are depth, elasticity modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the subsoil
respectively.
If shear deformation parameter of subsoil, 2t, is taken as equal to zero, Eq.(1) returns to
dynamic governing equation for plate on Winkler type elastic foundation. Although it is the
most preferred and very easy to apply, Winkler model ignores interaction and shear
deformation within the subsoil assuming subsoil under the plate to be independent, closely
spaced, discrete and linearly elastic springs. In reality, soil is a continuous medium and this
assumption is seen as a deficiency of the model. For elimination of the deficiency in the
Winkler model, researchers have endeavored developing a new two-parameter foundation
models such as Pasternak Model, Hetenyi Model and Vlasov model. But they failed to
establish any relationship between the soil parameters and soil types. Vallabhan et al. [26]
have focused on this problem and have introduced a new third parameter, , as a function of
the vertical deformation profile within the subsoil to use for the calculation of soil parameters.
The necessity to determine the values of soil parameters, k and 2t, arbitrarily is eliminated by
computing these values as a function of a new third parameter, , using an iterative procedure
in their model called the modified Vlasov model.
The mode shape function, (z), in Eq.3-4 describes the relationship between vertical
displacement throughout subsoil and surface vertical displacement of plate. Mode shape
function depends on the subsoil surface vertical deformation parameter, , and may be given
as below, Fig.1.

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 Korhan ÖZGAN

 z 
sinh  1  
 Hs 
  z  (5)
sinh 

where  is calculated using the equation shown below.

 

 w 

2
dxdy

2
   1  2 s  
   (6)
 Hs  2 1  s    2

w dxdy
 

As can be seen in Eq.(5) above, displacements of the plate must be known to calculate the 
parameter. For this, the analysis of the soil-structure system must be performed. But it is
necessary to know the values of soil parameters, k and 2t before the analysis, and soil
parameters vary depending on mode shape function, (z). At the same time, mode shape
function is dependent on the vertical deformation parameter, . Therefore, the solution of this
complex soil-structure interaction problem must be performed using an iterative technique.

a) 3D plate on elastic subsoil b) Mathematical model

Fig.1 A plate on three parameter elastic foundation

For the analysis of mathematical model shown in Fig.1(b), finite element model of the
laminated orthotropic plate on elastic foundation is developed initially by the use of SAP2000
software. Plate is defined as an area element and the shear layer is defined as a shell-
layered/nonlinear element with unit thickness. Elastic area springs are then assigned at the

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

bottom of the shell-layered/nonlinear element. After the finite element model is completed
in SAP2000, a computing tool developed in MATLAB is used to allow two-way data flow
with SAP2000 simultaneously. Soil parameters calculated in MATLAB are supplied as input
data to SAP2000 via OAPI functions. Subsequently the structure-soil system is analyzed and
the surface displacements of the foundation are sent to MATLAB code. Soil parameters are
re-calculated. The process is repeated until the difference between the new value of γi+1 and
the previously calculated γi attains a prescribed tolerance. The flow chart for the solution is
given in Fig.2.

Fig.2 Flowchart for analysis of plates on elastic foundation by OAPI

4. NUMERICAL VERIFICATION
An orthotropic laminated beam with different boundary conditions solved by Kahya [27], Shi
and Lam [28], Aydogdu [29] and Jun et al. [30] was selected to validate the presented
consistent model, and non-dimensional fundamental frequencies were compared. Properties
of the material used in the analysis are as follows:
E1=144.8106 kN/m2, E2=9.65106 kN/m2
G12= 4.14106 kN/m2, 12=0.30, =1389.23 kg/m3

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Comparison of non-dimensional fundamental frequencies of laminated orthotropic beams for

different boundary conditions are made in Table 1. Ratio of beam span to beam thickness
(L/h) was taken as 15 and non-dimensional frequency parameter was calculated with the
equation = /ℎ) / . Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that four
different solutions are in good agreement with each other and the presented model provides
results with sufficient accuracy.

Table 1. Nondimensional fundamental frequencies ( ) for various laminated beams

Boundary conditions
Beam Ref.
SS CC CS CF
[0/90] Kahya [27] 2.4850 4.6011 3.5241 0.9218
Shi and Lam [28]a 2.4979 4.6194 3.5264 0.9199
Aydogdu [29]b,c 2.5015b 4.6531 3.5474 0.9251
2.5036c 4.6685 3.5543 0.9255
Present study 2.5010 4.5772 3.5179 0.9232

[0/90/0/90] Kahya [27] 1.8329 3.6017 2.6784 0.6707

Shi and Lam [28] 1.9619 3.6994  
Jun et al. [30]d 1.9658 3.7086 2.7607 0.6746
Present study 1.9683 3.7058 2.7619 0.6751
a
FEM based on higher-order beam theory
b
Ritz method based on parabolic shear deformation beam theory
c
Ritz method based on exponential shear deformation beam theory
d
Dynamic FEM based on first-order beam theory

5. LAMINATED ORTHOTROPIC PLATES ON THREE PARAMETER ELASTIC

FOUNDATION
A parametric study was performed on a square laminated orthotropic plate resting on
modified Vlasov type elastic foundation subjected to a moving concentrated load with a
magnitude of 500 kN. When the load is acting on the plate, the plate makes a forced vibration
motion and the motion returns to free vibration when the load leaves the plate. Dimensions
of the plate are 1000 mm  1000 mm. Thickness is taken as 150 mm. Elasticity modulus of
subsoil (Es1= Es2) is 68950 kN/m2, Poisson’s ratio of the subsoil (s) is 0.25 and subsoil depth
(Hs) under the plate is taken as 10 m. The plate is considered to have four layers having the
same thickness. The laminates are arranged by the following material properties:
E1=172.5106 kN/m2, E2=6.9106 kN/m2, G12= 3.45106 kN/m2, 12=0.25,  =1578 kg/m3
Effects of lamination schemes
Firstly, effects of lamination scheme on the behavior of plates on elastic foundations are
investigated using material and geometrical properties given above. Four different lamination
schemes are examined such as [0/90]s, [0/90/0/90]s, [90/0]s, and [45/-45]s. Soil parameters

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

evaluated for centrally concentrated static load are presented in Table 2. Moving load analysis
was performed using these soil parameters. Furthermore, frequencies of the plate for each
lamination scheme were calculated.

Table 2 Soil parameters for various lamination schemes

Lamination k 2t
schemes
 (kN/m3) (kN/m)
[0/45]s 4.50610 18687.24 30543.18
[0/90]s 4.37260 18145.62 31459.46
[0/90/0/90] 4.00798 16679.80 34246.83
[0/45/0/45] 3.86610 16116.65 35458.20

Different soil parameters were obtained for various lamination schemes. This is to be
expected because the vertical displacement of plate changes depending on the lamination
schemes. While subgrade reaction modulus decreases from [0/45]s lamination scheme to
[0/45/0/45] lamination scheme, shear deformation parameter increases in the same order.
The first six frequencies of plate on elastic foundation are evaluated for each lamination
schemes and presented in Table 3 and Fig.3 by using soil parameters obtained above.

Table 3 First six frequencies for various lamination schemes

Lamination Frequencies (Hertz)

schemes f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6
[0/45]s 16.69 18.94 19.61 21.72 22.44 24.85
[0/90]s 16.52 18.90 19.46 21.66 22.77 24.71
[0/90/0/90] 16.05 18.92 18.92 21.59 23.85 23.93
[0/45/0/45] 15.88 18.56 18.99 21.53 22.94 24.30

It can be seen from the table and the accompanying figure that the natural frequency increases
as the mode number increases. The first and fourth frequencies decrease from [0/45]s
lamination scheme to [0/45/0/45] lamination scheme. The same trend in the second and third
frequency is observed. However irregular ups and downs are seen in the fifth and sixth
frequencies.
Mode shapes of the plate on elastic foundation were also obtained for all lamination schemes.
But since the presentation of all mode shapes would take up excessive space, only mode
shapes corresponding to six lowest frequency for [0/90]s are presented in Fig. 4.

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 Korhan ÖZGAN

25

20
Frequencies (1/s)

15

10

0
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

0/45/45/0 0/90/90/0 0/90/0/90 0/45/0/45

Fig.3 Comparison of first six frequencies for various lamination schemes

a) Mode 1 b) Mode 2

c) Mode 3 d) Mode 4

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

e) Mode 5 f) Mode 6
Fig. 4 First six mode shapes for [0/90]s laminated orthotropic plate on elastic
foundation

Effects of moving load on the behavior of laminated orthotropic plate regarding lamination
schemes were investigated considering soil-structure interaction. For the analysis, non-
dimensional velocity () defined as the ratio of velocity to critical velocity (=c/ccr) was
used. The critical velocity is calculated depending on the first frequency of plate with the
formulation of ccr=2f1L. Here, the average of the first frequencies corresponding to each
lamination schemes has been used as f1 which has been taken as nearly 16.5. =0 indicates
the state where the plate is subjected to a centrally concentrated load. Midpoint displacements
obtained from the analysis are presented in Table 4 and Fig.5.
As seen from Table 4 and Fig.5, as the velocity of moving load increases, the midpoint
displacement increases until the velocity reaches the value of =0.6, after which it decreases
again. The effects of lamination schemes on the displacement of plate are seen more clearly
as the load velocity increases. Midpoint displacements decrease from [0/45]s lamination to
[0/90/0/90] lamination for each velocity of moving load. It has also been said that the effects
of the lamination scheme are more effective for the moving load as compared with the static
centrally concentrated load.
Effects of lamination angles (0///0)
Here, the influence of lamination angles on the behavior of the plate was investigated. For
this purpose, a four-layer plate was considered. Each layer has equal thickness. Angles of top
and bottom layer are kept at 0o and middle layers are changed as 0o, 30o, 45o, 60o and 90o.
Soil parameters obtained for various lamination angles are given in Table 5.
As middle lamination angle ( ) increases, modulus of subgrade reaction decreases and shear
deformation parameter increases.
The first six frequencies of plate on elastic foundation are presented in Fig.6 using these soil
parameters. As seen from the figure, the first four frequencies of the plate tend to decrease as
lamination angle ( ) increases. Furthermore, effects of lamination angles on the frequencies
of plate decrease for the frequencies corresponding to large modes.

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 Korhan ÖZGAN

Table 4 Midpoint vertical displacement of plate for various lamination schemes

Lamination w (mm)
schemes =0.0 =0.2 =0.4 =0.6 =0.8 =1.0
[0/45]s 2.59 3.04 4.02 4.76 4.38 3.43
[0/90]s 2.48 2.80 3.93 4.46 4.12 3.16
[0/45/0/45] 2.47 2.59 3.91 4.46 3.77 2.93
[0/90/0/90] 2.34 2.53 3.86 4.03 3.49 2.57

6,0

4,5
w (mm)

3,0

1,5

0,0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0

0/90/90/0 0/90/0/90 0/45/45/0 0/45/0/45

Fig.5 Comparison of midpoint displacement of plate for various lamination schemes

Table 5 Soil parameters for various lamination angles (0///0)

Lamination k 2t
schemes
 (kN/m3) (kN/m)
[0/0]s 5.09986 21115.69 27021.45
[0/30]s 4.74592 19664.96 29019.29
[0/45]s 4.50610 18687.24 30543.18
[0/60]s 4.34213 18022.29 31675.97
[0/90]s 4.37226 18145.62 31459.46

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

25

20
Frequencies (1/s)

15

10

0
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

[0/0]s [0/30]s [0/45]s [0/60]s [0/90]s

Fig.6 Comparison of first six frequencies for various lamination angles

6,0

4,5
w (mm)

3,0

1,5

0,0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0


[0/0]s [0/30]s [0/45]s [0/60]s [0/90]s

Fig.7 Comparison of midpoint displacement of plate for various lamination angles

Midpoint displacement of the plate for various lamination angles is plotted in Fig.7. The
smallest vertical displacement is obtained for [0/90]s in comparison to other lamination

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 Korhan ÖZGAN

schemes. The displacement increases with decreasing middle lamination angle ( ) for all
non-dimensional velocities of moving load. The largest value of midpoint displacement is
obtained for =0.6 as before. The lamination angles effect on the displacement for =0.6 is
much higher than that of other non-dimensional velocities. Further, displacement order for
various lamination angles considered is as follows [0/0]s > [0/30]s > [0/45]s > [0/60]s >
[0/90]s.
Effects of layer number
Here, keeping the plate thickness constant, the plate is considered as 3-layered, 4-layered, 5-
layered and 6-layered to demonstrate the effects of number of layers on the behavior of the
plate. Table 6 shows that modulus of subgrade reaction decreases with increasing number of
layers. But, shear deformation parameter increases as the number of layer increases.

Table 6 Soil parameters for various layer numbers

Lamination k 2t
schemes
 (kN/m3) (kN/m)
[0/90/0] 4.75291 19693.56 28977.04
[0/90]s 4.37226 18145.62 31459.46
[0/90/0/90/0] 4.19780 17440.05 32740.72
[0/90/0]s 4.12921 17164.52 33270.57
Fig. 8 displays the variation of first six frequencies with the numbers of layers of the plate.
Frequencies decrease from 3-layered plate to 6-layered plate except for fifth frequencies.

25

20
Frequencies (1/s)

15

10

0
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

0/90/0 [0/90]s 0/90/0/90/0 [0/90/0]s

Fig.8 Comparison of first six frequencies for various layer numbers

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

Midpoint displacements(w) of the plate for various layer numbers are plotted in Fig.9. It is
also seen that the central displacement increases up to =0.6 and decreases for the larger
values of . It is also observed that the curves approach each other as the number of layers
increases. So, it can be said that an increase in the number of layers does not cause any
significant change on the results beyond a certain value.

6,0

4,5
w (mm)

3,0

1,5

0,0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0

0/90/0 [0/90]s 0/90/0/90/0 [0/90/0]s

Fig.9 Comparison of midpoint displacement of plate for various lamination numbers

Effects of subsoil depth

The plate on elastic foundation with [0/90]s lamination is chosen to indicate the effects of
subsoil depth on the responses. Analyses were performed for five different subsoil depths of
2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 m. Soil parameters under a central concentrated load are tabulated in Table
7. As the subsoil depth increases, subgrade reaction modulus decreases while shear
deformation modulus increases because deeper rigid base makes soil stratum more flexible.

Table 7 Soil parameters for various subsoil depth

Subsoil k 2t
Depth (m)
 (kN/m3) (kN/m)
2 1.16488 42700.44 15605.36
4 1.94472 24289.08 24844.61
6 2.70872 19749.34 29336.09
8 3.25181 18468.33 30993.67
10 4.37226 18145.62 31459.46

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Frequencies of the plate on elastic foundation are plotted in Fig.10. As seen from the figure,
frequencies of the plate decrease when soil stratum is more flexible. But changes in the
frequencies decrease with increasing subsoil depth. This means that subsoil depth does not
affect the frequencies considerably after a certain value of subsoil depth.

30

25
Frequencies (1/s)

20

15

10

0
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

2 4 6 8 10

Fig.10 Comparison of first six frequencies for various subsoil depth

6,0

4,5
w (mm)

3,0

1,5

0,0
2,0 4,0 6,0 8,0 10,0
H(m)
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00

Fig.11 Comparison of central displacement of plate for various subsoil depth

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

It is observed that the central displacement is maximum for H =10 m, and minimum for H=2
m. That is because, as the depth of the soil stratum decreases, the central displacement
decreases as well. The displacement increases with the decreasing modulus of subgrade
reaction and increasing shear deformation parameter. All these findings suggest that the
effects of soil parameters on the displacement are quite significant but the same cannot be
claimed for the soil depth. Studying Fig.11, it is easy to see that the effect of subsoil depth
on the plate displacement vanishes as the soil gets deeper. This means that subsoil depth does
not affect the results considerably after a certain value; namely 6 m for =0.0, 0.2 and 0.4, 4
m for =0.6 and, 2 m for =0.8 and 1.0.
Effects of subsoil elasticity modulus
Various values of subsoil modulus of elasticity at the bottom have been considered to display
the effects of changes of subsoil elasticity modulus through the depth on the behavior of plate
for [0/90]s lamination schemes. Subsoil elasticity modulus at the bottom, Es2, was changed
for the ratios of Es2/Es1=1, 2, 3 and 4, keeping subsoil elasticity modulus at the top constant
at Es1=68950 kN/m2. Table 8 demonstrates soil parameters for various ratio of Es2/Es1. Table
8 shows that the subgrade reaction modulus increases while shear deformation parameter
decreases as the ratio of Es2/Es1 increases that is, as the subsoil becomes stiffer.

Table 8 Soil parameters for various ratio of bottom to top elasticity modulus of subsoil
k 2t
Es2/Es1  (kN/m3) (kN/m)
1 4.37226 18145.62 31459.46
2 4.52411 20848.92 33759.70
3 4.65731 23472.46 35872.88
4 4.77701 26037.75 37838.20

Comparison of the first six frequencies for various ratios of Es2/Es1 is presented in Fig.12. It
is seen that all frequencies increase with the increasing ratio of Es2/Es1 and the increases are
quite similar for the frequencies corresponding to the first six modes.
Comparison of the midpoint displacement of plate for various ratios of Es2/Es1 is given in
Fig.13. Results show that the central displacements of the plate decrease as the subsoil
elasticity modulus at the bottom increases. As the foundation becomes stiffer by increasing
the subsoil elasticity modulus at the bottom, the midpoint displacement of the plate continues
to drop. But the effects of subsoil elasticity modulus on the displacement of the plate loses
its importance for a large velocity moving load, especially for =0.8.
Effects of plate thickness
Herein, effects of the plate thickness on the behavior of plate are investigated. For this
purpose, the various thickness to length ratio is used taking h/L=0.015, 0.030, 0.045 and
0.060 keeping the span of plate constant at 10 m. The plate has 4 layers of equal thickness
and its lamination scheme is [0/90]s. It is seen from Table 9 that subgrade reaction modulus
decreases while shear deformation modulus increases as h/L ratio increases.

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30

25
Frequencies (1/s)

20

15

10

0
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

E2/E1=1 E2/E1=2 E2/E1=3 E2/E1=4

Fig.12 Comparison of first six frequencies for various ratio of bottom to top elasticity
modulus of subsoil

6,0

4,5
w (mm)

3,0

1,5

0,0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0

E2/E1=1 E2/E1=2 E2/E1=3 E2/E1=4

Fig.13 Comparison of midpoint displacement of plate for various ratio of E2/E1

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

Table 9 Soil parameters for various plate thicknesses

k 2t
h/L  (kN/m3) (kN/m)
0.015 4.37226 18145.62 31459.46
0.030 2.57224 11412.20 50985.25
0.045 1.96482 9760.53 61719.86
0.060 1.65983 9156.86 67841.71

Fig.14 demonstrates comparison of first six frequencies for various plate thicknesses.
Frequencies decrease with increasing plate thickness. But the drops in the frequencies for
large values of plate thickness are less.

25

20
Frequencies (1/s)

15

10

0
f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6

h/L=0.015 h/L=0.03 h/L=0.045 h/L=0.06

Fig.14 Comparison of first six frequencies for various plate thicknesses

As seen from Fig.15, displacements decrease with increasing plate thickness. This is because
bending rigidity of the plate increases as the plate thickness increases hence, the decrease in
vertical displacement of the plate. It can also be observed that for large values of the ratio
h/L, the midpoint displacement does not vary significantly. Furthermore, the effect of plate
thickness on the displacement of plate is lost after a certain value of plate thickness.

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 Korhan ÖZGAN

6,0

4,5
w (mm)

3,0

1,5

0,0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0

h/L=0.015 h/L=0.030 h/L=0.045 h/L=0.060

Fig.15 Comparison of midpoint displacement of plate for various plate thicknesses

The variation of midpoint displacement with non-dimensional time for 0/90/90/0 symmetric
laminated plate and various velocities of moving load and for various laminated plates and
=0.6 values are shown at Fig.16a and Fig.16b.

6 6
 0/90/90/0

0/90/0/90
4  4
 0/45/45/0
w (mm)
w (mm)

 0/45/0/45
2 2

0 0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0
-2 -2
t/tp t/tp
a) b)
Fig.16 Variation of midpoint displacement with non-dimensional time

6. CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the behavior of laminated orthotropic plates on an elastic foundation subjected
to moving load was studied using the modified Vlasov model. For this purpose, a computer

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Modeling Laminated Orthotropic Plate-Foundation Interaction Subjected …

tool was developed to make two-way data exchange between SAP2000 and MATLAB using
OAPI functions. First the accuracy of the proposed model was verified and the effects of the
lamination scheme, various lamination angles, lamination number, subsoil depth, elasticity
modulus of subsoil, plate thickness and velocity of moving load on the behavior of laminated
orthotropic plates on elastic foundation were discussed. The conclusions drawn from the
study are summarized below.
 The results from the solution procedure presented in the study show good agreement with
those of the numerical analyses in the literature. The solution procedure may be
effectively used for the analysis of laminated composite plates on elastic foundations.
The main advantage of the solution procedure developed is that it is a powerful tool to
handle and solve various situations with various boundary conditions, orientation angles,
lamination schemes and load types.
 Plate thickness, subsoil depth and elasticity modulus have important influence on the
behavior of the plate.
 Midpoint displacement of the plate for all lamination schemes increases as the velocity
of moving load increases up to a certain value. The displacements decrease with
increasing velocity of the moving load.
 The effects of lamination schemes on the displacement of plate are seen more clearly as
the load velocity increases.
 The effect of the layer number on the results decreases as the number of layers increases.
 Subsoil depth does not affect the results considerably after a certain value.
 The effect of subsoil elasticity modulus on the results loses its importance for large
velocities of moving load.
 The effect of the plate thickness on the results decreases as the thickness of plate
increases.

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