Abstract
In this study, the nonlinear Berger equation for large deflection problems of isotropic plates and the finite-difference method are used to obtain solutions for deformation in rectangular elastic plates with a cross-stiffener. Numerical solutions are presented in order to illustrate the influence of the stiffener on the center deflection in uniformly loaded rectangular plates, which are supported by two beams orthogonally intersecting at the center of the plate. The numerical procedure is simpler than the procedures based on the von Karman theory, and takes into account the continuity conditions related to particular loads more rigorously than tha variational methods, such as the Rayleigh-Ritz energy method and finite element method.
