Abstract
In this paper, a new rectangular plate bending model with only one transverse displacement parameter for each one of four vertex points and eight outside points of the element is presented. This model is obtained from Melosh's plate bending model by transforming two rotation parameters at each vertex point of the element into transverse displacement parameters of its own point and the adjacent points by means of finite differece approximation. If these points are taken to be coinside with the vertex points of its element and the adjacent elements, the total numbers of parameters in the finite element analysis of plates may be decreased drastically. In the example analyses of deformation, buckling and vibration problems, we obtained more accurate results by using the present model in compared with the results by Melosh's model in the same degree of freedom. So it may be concluded that the present model might be very useful for plate bending analysis.
