hd. d. Mech. Sci. PergamonPress Ltdl 1964. Vol.6, pp. 209-224.

Printed in Great Britain

A FINITE DIFFERENCE ANALYSIS OF THE FLEXURAL-

TORSIONAL BEHAVIOUR OF C, R I L L A G E S

J . D. RENTON
Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
(Received 30 October 1963)

S u m m a r y - - T h e equilibrium of a grillage is expressed by finite difference equations,

assuming t h a t the bars are rigidly interconnected at the joints. Solutions of these equations
are given and a rapid method of obtaining linearly independent solutions from known
solutions is evolved. A method due to Bessel is adapted to the analysis of problems where
the solutions express the loading by sinusoidal functions. Numerical examples of circular
and rectangular grillages are given. Further justification of Lightfoot's 1 method, for
analysing plates by the use of substitute grillages, is found on examining the above solutions
as the grillage meshes become infinitely fine.
NOMENCLATURE
a, b the lengths of grillage bars in the x and y directions respectively
A~, A S the respective torsional and flexural stiffnesses of bars lying in the
x direction
B~, B~ the respective torsional and flexural stiffnesses of bars lying in the
y direction
D the flexural rigidity of a plate
Ex, Ev finite difference operators defined by equations (4)
K 1 to K 7 constants defined b y equations (16) to (22)
W a constant describing the amplitude of normal loading
W~,~ the normal load at a point (x, y)
(x, y) finite difference co-ordinates of a point with regard to the co-ordinates
X,Y,Z
X, Y, Z an overall co-ordinate system
a differential operator defined by equation (23)
a difference operator defined b y equation (24)
al, as, ill, fl, stiffness coefficients defined by equations (5)
~y = As~**/Wa s
$i.j the Kronecker delta
/~, v dimensionless coefficients
a Poisson's ratio
Cxv the rotation of a point (x, y) about the X axis
~b** the rotation of a point (x, y) about the Y axis
o** the displacement of a point (x, y) in the Z direction
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N
THE p r o b l e m o f t h e a n a l y s i s o f g r i l l a g e s h a s r e c e i v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e a t t e n t i o n in
recent years. Several quite distinct methods of analysis have emerged.
K l i t c h i e f f * s u g g e s t s a F o u r i e r series m e t h o d w h i c h m a y b e u s e d t o s i m u l a t e
the deflexions of an arbitrary grillage. Moment distribution techniques have
b e e n u s e d b y E w e l l et al. a a n d c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m m e s h a v e b e e n d e s c r i b e d b y
L i g h t f o o t a n d S a w k o 4 a n d M a r t i n a n d H e r n a n d e z 5.
W h e n t h e f o r m o f t h e g r i l l a g e is r e g u l a r , s i m p l i f i c a t i o n s in t h e a n a l y s i s m a y
b e m a d e . F o r s u c h g r i l l a g e s H e n d r y a n d J a e g e r e r e p l a c e t h e cross g i r d e r s b y a
209
210 J.D. RENTON
continuous elastic medium. Holman 7 shows that Klitchieff's Fourier analysis
need contain only a finite number of terms. Ellington and McCallion s use
finite difference techniques. None of these manual analyses for regular grillages
is exact. In the first method, the elastic medium will behave only approximately
like the cross beams which it replaces. Torsional behaviour is ignored in the
second and third analyses and this may lead to large errors when the torsional
stiffness of the bars is significant. The purpose of the present paper is to provide
a method which allows for the torsional as well as the flexural behaviour of
regular grillages, on the assumption that the members are rigidly interconnected
at the joints.

2. SOLUTION OF THE D I F F E R E N C E EQUATIONS

Fig. 1 shows a rectangular element of a grillage loaded by a normal force
W~,v at the joint (x, y). The equilibrium of this joint is given by

A1
a [x-l,u - 2x,u + ~bz+l,v]+ ~-~ [qbz,u-x + 4qbx,u+ ~bx,v+~]
6B,
"1"---~ [O)x,y_ 1 O.~x,y+l] = 0
- - (1)

2A2 4'
B_~ [~ix,y_ l -- 2~ x.y + ~bx,y+l ] + a - [~x-l,y + ~Jx,y "~ ~//x+l,y]

6A,.
a s [wx-l,u- f'Ox+l,y] = 0 (2)

6B~ 6A 2
x.u+,] + -

12A~_
- aa [tz-l,u- 2wx,u + -xtx+l.y]

12B~
bn [oJx,u_1 - 2%,v+ t%,u+l] = Wza, (3)

(equating the sums of the moments acting on the joint about the X and Y axes
to zero and the sum of the shear forces to Wx,u respectively). The bars in the x
direction have length a, torsional stiffness A 1 and bending stiffness A2, and the
bars in the y direction have length b, torsional stiffness B1, and bending
stiffness Bs. The displacements of the joint (x, y) consist of the rotations x,u
and ~bx,v about the X and Y axes respectively and the deflexion wx,u in the
Z direction.
Suppose that the finite difference operators E x and E v are such that

E x f ( x , y ) = f ( x + l,y); E v f ( x , y ) = f ( x , y + l) (4)
and that
A1, 2A n B1 2B~
= - ' " fq= " (5)
a aa ' -b' bn
 A finite difference analysis of the flexural-tor,~ional behaviour of grillages 211

Then equations (1)-(3) become

{-~[E;l-2+Ex]+b2fl2[E~+4+Eu]}~,~+3bfl2[E-~l-W~]o~.y = 0 (6)

{-fll[E;I-2+E~]+a2a2[E;~+4+Ex]}~,~-3a~2[E;~-E~]~x, ~= 0 (7)

- 3bfl2[E-~ ~ - Ey] Cx,~ + 3ac~2[Ex 1 - El] ~bx.y

- {6a2[E~ 1 - 2 + E . ] + 6f~[W; ~ - 2 + E~]} %,~ = l~,~ (8)

Fro. 1. Grillage unit a n d co-ordinate system.

T h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e s e e q u a t i o n s will d e p e n d i n p a r t o n t h e f o r m t a k e n b y t h e
f u n c t i o n Wx,u. I n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s o l u t i o n s , t h e f o l l o w i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e
useful :

(E-~l+Ex)eoslzx = cos/z(x- 1)+cos/z(x+ l ) = ( 2 c o s l z ) cos/zx (9a)

(Exl-Ex) coslzx = c o s / z ( x - 1 ) - c o s t z ( x + 1) = (2 s i n l z ) s i n ~ x (9b)

likewise

( E ; 1 + Ex) s i n / z x = (2 cos/~) s i n / z x ; ( E x 1 - E l ) s i n / z x -- ( - 2 sin/~) c o s / z x (10)

( E ; 1 + E~) 1 = 2; (E-~I-Ex) 1 = 0 (ll)

( E x l + Ex) x = 2x ; (E; 1-Ex)x = - 2 (12)

( E ~ 1 + E~) x ~ = 2x 2 + 2 ; (E; ~ - Ex) x 2 = - 4x (13)

( E x l + E~) x 3 = 2x 3 + 6x ; ( E x 1 - Ex) x a = - 6x 2 - 2 (14)

( E x l + Ex) x 4 = 2x 4 + 12x 2 + 2 ; ( E ~ 1 - Ex) x 4 = - 8x 3 - 8x (15)

212 J . D . RENTON

a n d similar e q u a t i o n s will hold for f u n c t i o n s of y. P a r t i c u l a r solutions o f

interest m a y be established on s u b s t i t u t i n g e q u a t i o n s (9)-(15) i n t o e q u a t i o n s
(6)-(8). E a c h r o w o f T a b l e 1 gives the expressions for one such solution.

TABLE 1. FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTIONS OF EQUATIONS (6)-(8)

- K~ C cos #zx sin vy K 1 C sin #~x cos vy C cos #x=ccos vy K a C cos #ix cos vy
-K~Bsinvy K4Asinixx Acosl~x+Bcosvy KeAcoslzx+KTBcosvy

2C r ~ al 1 2C r ~, /7~ 1 ra, /71

4B 4A
_ _ ya - -- x3 A x 4 + By 4 12(A~ + Bfl2)
b a

where
3aa s sin #~
(16)
K1 = fTl(1 - cos v) + a s as(cos #z+ 2)

3bfls sin v
K s = al(1 _ c o s / ~ ) + b S f l s ( c o s v + 2) (17)

K a = 6{2a2(1-cost~)-Klaa~sin#z+2fls(1-cosv)-K2bflgsinv } (18)

K4 = 3 sin
a(cos/~ + 2) (19)

3 sin v
K5 = b ( c o s v + 2) (20)

Ke = 6a~(1 - cost~) 2
(cos~+2) (21)
K7 = 6 8 2 ( 1 - c o s v) ~
(cos v + 2) (22)

a n d A, B a n d C are a r b i t r a r y c o n s t a n t s .
I t will n o w be s h o w n t h a t , f r o m t h e solutions in T a b l e 1, o t h e r linearly
i n d e p e n d e n t solutions m a y be derived.

L e m m a 1. A n y linear differential f u n c t i o n o f solutions t o a set o f finite

difference e q u a t i o n s is also a solution. L e t t h e differential o p e r a t o r ~ be such
that

T ) f ( x , y) = Z apq ~xl~ ~ j q f ( x , y) (23)

P,q

a n d t h e difference o p e r a t o r be such t h a t

t~f{x,y) = Z b . f ( x + r , y + s) (24}
i',8
 A finite difference analysis of the flexural-torsional behaviour of grillages 213

where %,q a n d br~ are a n y specified constants. Then

~)~f(x, y) = Z al)q ?x p ~)~ (~f(x. y)

l),q

= ~ apqbr.~x~ ~ y J ( X + r , y + s )
p,q,r,s

= Z e ~,of(x,y) = eW(x,y) (25)

P,q
where
=x+r; ~q=y+s (26)
a n d apq a n d brs are constant coefficients. T h u s the differential and the difference
operators c o m m u t e .
The linear difference equations are of the form
~ f ( x , y ) = g(x,y) (27)
the function g(x, y) being d e p e n d e n t on the solution, so t h a t , from equation (25),

~79f(x, y) = 7 ~ f ( x , y) = ~g(x, y) (28)

Thus if f '(x, y) is a " p a r t i c u l a r integral" of g(x, y) then ~ f ' ( x , y) is a " p a r t i c u l a r
integral" of ~ g ( x , y ) and if g(x,y) is zero, b o t h f ' ( x , y ) and ~ f ' ( x , y ) are
" c o m p l e m e n t a r y functions". Table 2 lists solutions derived in this m a n n e r
f r o m the third a n d fourth rows of Table 1.
TABLE 2. SOLUTIONS DERIVED FROM TABLE 1

c[x~+ ~] - 2C
~ xy c x ~ .y o

~- xy a [ 3a* a2J
C C
x ay Cxy 0

o o c o

3B y~ _ 3A x2 Ax a + By a 0
b a
2B 2A
b- Y - --a x A x ~+ Bq2, 0

B A
Ax + By 0
-b a

I t also follows from equation (28) t h a t equations (10)-(14) m a y be derived from

equations (9) and (15). F u r t h e r solutions m a y also be derived on differentiating
the first and second rows of Table 1. H y p e r b o l i c solutions can be derived on
214 J.D. RENTON
substituting imaginary values for ~ and v. Other solutions in terms of higher
polynomials and transcendental functions can also be found although their use
is somewhat limited.

3. R E P R E S E N T A T I O N OF L O A D I N G CONDITIONS
The third and fourth solutions of Table 1 are obviously the most convenient
to use for uniformly loaded grillages. In general, however, the individual
solutions given will not describe the desired loading and satisfy the boundary
conditions. In some cases, if the loading is correctly expressed by a solution,
Table 2 will provide functions to satisfy the desired boundary conditions.
When the boundary conditions are most readily satisfied for a sinusoidal
loading, the actual loading m a y be expressed as a sum of sinusoidal loadings by
a modification of a method due to Bessel 9. He shows t h a t the best representa-
tion by sinusoidal terms of a function f(x) where x takes integer value between
0 and m - 1 is given by

f ( x ) = ~=o ( apcos 2~rPX+bvsin2~-~-PmX)

m (29)

where
2 m--1
= Z f ( x ) cos 2.px (30)
ap m( 1 + 8p,o) ( 1 + 82p,m) xffiO m

2 m-1 2~rpx
bp = m f(x) sin (31)
xffi0 m

where 8i,j is the Kronecker delta and 2q is some number less t h a n m. This form
m a y be used directly provided t h a t the loading can be expressed as the sum or
product of a function of x and a function of y.
The form required for more general loading m a y be found on considering a
single load W~,,u,at the generic point (x', y'). The overall loading Wx,u can then
be expressed as a product of two delta functions, W~,,(~x,x, x ~u,v'), all the points
other t h a n (x', y') being unloaded. From the above equations (29)-(31)

W~=, Wx, u,[p~o (apcos2:P , . 2~rr \]

[~ffi~/(crCOSn_Y+a~Sm_n_y~j2~rr

(32)
where
2 COS 27rp Xt
m 2 2~rp x',
ap = m(1 +Sp,0) (1 +82v,~ )' bp = --sin
m m

2 cos 27rr y,
n
2
dr = - sin
21try,
Cr = n(l +SrO)(1-b$2rn)' n n
 A finite difference analysis o f t h e f l e x u r a l - t o r s i o n a l b e h a v i o u r o f grillages 215

and 2s is some n u m b e r less t h a n n. The general form of Wx,u is generated by a

,
set of terms Wx,,~,for all points (x', y') in the range 0 ~<x' < m, 0 .~ y < n. Then

Wx~= Z Z Wx,,v, apcos x+bpsin x

x'=0 y'=0 p=O

r s / 21rr 11
/ z , ,eos--y+d sin y._j (33)
L~=o\ n

= ~ ~ aprCOS2~rPxcos2~rr .
n yWOvreOS21rPxsin2rrry
p=o r=o m m n
+ cprsin 2rrp 2~rr . , 2:p x sin 2:ry)
m x cos n y + ap~ sm (34)
where
m-1 n-1 4Wx u cos 2~r_
p x cos 2~rr Y
' m n
(35)
ap~ = z~oZ~o mn(1 + 8p,o) (1 +~p,m) (1 +~ro), (1 +~r~),

m--1 n--1 4Wx y c o s 27rpx s i n 21rr

m n y
(36)
bPr-- x=oZ~=0Z mn(l +$po)(l +~pm,
21rp 21rr
m - 1 n--1
4W~,usin m x cos -~- y
(37)

m--1 n--1
dpr = ~ Z 4W~,~sin 21rp x sin 21rr y (38)
x=0 u=o i n m n

This m e t h o d shows an obvious similarity to Fourier series techniques. F u r t h e r

amplification of this approach is given b y W h i t t a k e r and Robinson 1.

4. T H E A N A L Y S I S OF C I R C U L A R G R I L L A G E S
I t would seem natural to define a point (x', y') on a circular b o u n d a r y by
the equation
a2x'~+b~y'2-m2ab = 0 (39)

However, the variables x' and y' only take values at discrete intervals, so t h a t
this equation does not in general correspond directly to the actual conditions.
As m increases, the ratio of the size of these intervals to the radius of the
circular b o u n d a r y will decrease so t h a t the accuracy of the approximation can
be expected to improve.
In most cases, these grillages have identical members in both directions, so
that
a---b; a l = f l l ; a*--fie (40)
216 J . D . RENTON

I f we specify t h a t the vertical deflexions are zero on the boundary, then from
the third and fourth solutions of Table I and the fourth and sixth solutions of
Table 2

~x,y = 213a 2 ~2 + 2c11]

- Wa ( y,_m, +.~a2~) x (42)
Cz,u = 213a~-%~-2%] x2+ ~1
Wa 2
= y2 _ m2)2 (43)
a:~'u 813a 2 % q- 2%] (x2 q-

W~,u = W (44)
where W is constant, is a solution and from the fourth and sixth solutions of
Table 2
Cx,u = 2 C y (45)
~bz, u = - 2 C x (46)
oJx,u = C a ( x 2 + y~ - m e} (47)

I~, u = 0 (48)

is also a solution. Combining these results to give zero deflexions on the

boundary,
W a ( x 2 + y2 _ ms) y
x,,J = 213a2 2+ 2 i] (40)
_ W a ( x 2 + y2 _ m 2) x
~bx'u = 2[ 3a2 ~2 + 2%] (50)

Wa2 (x2 + y 2 _ m2) l' 2~1

(51)

Fig. 2(a) shows an octant of such a circular grillage for the case when m = 7
and gives the co-ordinates of the joints on the axes of s y m m e t r y . Taking both
the flexural and torsional stiffnesses of the bars to be equal to A~, the vertical
deflexions of the grillage m a y be written in terms of the dimensionless
p a r a m e t e r ~'x,u where

A2 = ~4 [ 4 9 - (x2 + y2)] [49a~ - (x2 + y~-)] (52)

~x,,j -- W a a a:,y

The p a r a m e t e r y~.u was also calculated using Livesley's computer programme

for the analysis of grillages. The two sets of results are compared in Table 3 of
the Appendix and the deflexions plotted to an exaggerated vertical scale in
Fig. 2(b). The solid lines indicate the results from equation (52) and the broken
lines those obtained from the computer programme. The m a x i m u m error,
expressed as a proportion of the central deflexion, is 2.7 per cent.
On examining the solutions given by equations (41)-(44) and (45)-(48) it
will be seen t h a t the rotation of a joint at the boundary must be about an axis
tangential to the boundary. To define pinned boundary conditions it is therefore
 A finite difference a n a l y s i s of t h e f l , , x u r a l - t o r s i o n a l b e h a v i o u r of grillages 217

necessary to equate the resulting moment, acting on the joint about this axis,
to zero. If equation (40) holds, at a joint on the boundary in the first quadrant,
Tx.u= %(1-Exl)x.,+a2%(2+E-~l)x.u+3a~2E~OJx.v (53)
Mx.~ = a 2 %(2 + E;Z) ~.y+ ~z(l - E ; ~)Cx.u- 3 a ~ E ; 1~.~ (54)
where T~.u is the reaction moment about the X axis and ~][x.~ is the reaction
(a) (b)
W W

(~,~)

(o,o)~

Fro. 2. L o a d s a n d deflexions for a n o e t a n t of a e l a m p e d c i r c u l a r grillage.

moment about the Y axis. The moment R~.y about the tangent to the boundary
is given by
YTxu-xM (55)
R x ' ~ = m ' m x.~
Again, taking the flexural and torsional stiffnesses as equal to A2, the solution
given by equations (41)-(44) yields

Rx zl, -
Wa
16m{2m2-~}(x+y) (56)

and for the solution given by equations (45)-(48),

Rx~ = 2CA~'(x+y} (57)

' ma
so that the equations corresponding to pinned boundary conditions for this
case are
Wa 2
~6~,~= 16A2 Ix2 + y2 _ 3(m 2_ ~)] (58)

= - Wa2~ s + y2_ 3(m~_ .~)] (59)

o~,~ = ~Waa-Lx"
" + yS_ m ~] i x z + y2 - 5 ( m 2_ ~)] (60)
15
218 J . D . RENTON
5. T H E A N A L Y S I S OF R E C T A N ( ] U L A I ( i R I I , L A G E S
In m o s t cases, the b o u n d a r y of a r e c t a n g u l a r grillage can t)e descrit)c(t
e x a c t l y in t e r m s of the discrete variables x a n d y. This does not m e a n t h a t x
a n d y m u s t t a k e integer values on the b o u n d a r y . F o r the grillage shown in
Fig. 3(a), it is c o n v e n i e n t to situate the origin of co-ordinates a t a corner of the
grillage. I t will be seen later t h a t some grillages with boundaries which do not
pass t h r o u g h the regular grillage joints (of the t y p e (x,y) in Fig. 1) can also be
a n a l y s e d exactly.
The algebraic functions which p r o v e d useful in the last section are no
longer of service except for r e c t a n g u l a r frames with v e r y unusual loading or
b o u n d a r y conditions. Usually the b o u n d a r y conditions are m o s t easily
satisfied b y using sinusoidal solutions a n d b y expressing the loading b y m e a n s
of the summation, m e t h o d described in Section 3.
F r o m the first a n d second rows of T a b l e 1 a n d using L e m m a 1, two solutions
of p a r t i c u l a r interest can be f o u n d for a grillage with boundaries fixed in
position a n d lying along the lines x = 0 or m and y = 0 or n:

Cx,u = - C sin 2~-sy_ [ K 2 cos 2~rx - h~] (61 )

n m

x'g = C sin 27rrx- [Kl cs 2 ~ S Y - (62)

wz,u = C cos 1 cos - - " - 1 (63)

m n

W~u= [ m n m-- K7 cos IyT2 ~ ] (64)

where 0 ~<r < m, 0 ~<s < n (r a n d s being integers).
Differentiating the first solution of T a b l e 1 with regard to b o t h x a n d y,
. . rrrx 7rsu
Cx,u = - t(2 C s m . . . . cos - ~ (65)
l/t, 7/,

_ rrrx . 7rsy
x,u = K1 C' cos ....... s m - (66)
m n
7rrx . rrsy
cox,u = C sin - - - sin --' (67)
m n

W~u = Ka C sin ~rx sin 7sY (68)

~, rb

where r a n d s are integers in the ranges 0 ~<r < m, 0 ~<s < n, so t h a t the n u m b e r
of solutions available in this case is c o m m e n s u r a t e to the degrees of freedom of
a general loading system.
The first solution, given b y equations (61)-(64), a p p r o x i m a t e s to s y m m e t r i c a l
n o r m a l loading with c l a m p e d b o u n d a r y conditions. T h e vertical displacements
a n d the flexural r o t a t i o n s on the b o u n d a r y are zero, so t h a t if the torsional
stiffnesses of the m e m b e r s are small in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h their flexural stiffnesses,
n o t only does the condition of zero torsional r o t a t i o n a t the b o u n d a r y b e c o m e
 A finite difference analysis of the flexural-torsional behaviour of grillages 219
less important but it is in fact more nearly satisfied as K 1 and K,, tend to K 4 and
K 5 respectively. Clamped boundary conditions may be satisfied exactly by a
linear function of the four solutions given by equations (61)-(64) corresponding
to the values r' and r" of r and s' and s" of s, provided that
K(t~', v") K(iz", v') = K(t~', v') K(t~", v") (69)
where
[0~1( 1 -- COS/.t) -~- b 2 fl2(eos v + 2)]
(70)
g(/~, v) = [~1( 1 - - c o s y) --~a2-~2(co8 ~ "~-2 i ]
and
2rtr 2~r8
/z = - - - , v-- (71)
m n
and similar expressions result with the terms primed in the appropriate manner.
This is readily satisfied for square grillages with identical bars in both the x
and y directions. However, it reduces the number of solutions available to
describe the loading so that further solutions may be required. These Can be
obtained from equations (65)-(68) in a similar way, for some values r' and r"
of r and s' and s" of s provided that equations (69) and (70) are satisfied where
~r 7r8
/~=~, V=--n (72)

and similar expressions result from the terms being primed in the appropriate
manner. Again, these equations will hold true for a square grillage with
identical bars in both directions.
Equations (65)-(68) usually correspond to boundary conditions such that
the members normal to the boundary are constrained to rotate about edge
beams with torsional stiffnesses equal to one-half of the torsional stiffnesses of
the grillage bars in the same direction. When the torsional stiffnesses of the
bars are relatively small, the behaviour will approach that for pinned support
conditions. In fact, if the boundary is such that the members meeting it at
right-angles are one-half of the length of the other members in the same direction,
then pinned boundary conditions can be reproduced exactly by equations
(65)-(68), x and y taking integer values plus a half.
Fig. 3(a) shows a quadrant of a rectangular grillage pinned along the
boundaries x = 0 or 12, y = 0 or 9. All the members have a common rectangular
section with a depth equal to twice its width. If the flexural stiffness of the
section is A2, then its torsional stiffness is 0.2644A 2 taking Poisson's ratio as
0.3. The length of the members in the y direction is taken as twice that of the
members in the x direction. The loading shown in the figure, which is
symmetrical about the centre lines of the grillage, is given by
[ . ~rx . ~ry . 3~rx ~ry] (73)
W~,u = W 1"3938 sin -4- sm -~- + 0.2391 s i n - ~ - sin -3-

and, from equations (67) and (68), the dimensionless parameter

Yx'u= A~oJx,
W a s u = 2.1410 sin ~rX
4 sin ~ry 31rx . ny
-3-+O.O086sin--~-sm-~- (74)
220 J . D . RENTON
The resulting deflexions are plotted in Fig. 3(b) to an exaggerated vertical
scale and the deflexions obtained using Livesley's p r o g r a m m e shown b y broken
lines. The corresponding values of the p a r a m e t e r Yx.u are given in Table 4 in
the Appendix. The m a x i m u m error, expressed as a proportion of the m a x i m u m
w

(~')(5.o)-.<... ~ y/(o,2)
c3,o)~ // J

(2,0) "<.. /
0,o)~
( f
x.,.~ j-

7
(a)

(b)
FIG. 3. Loads and deflexions for a quadrant of a pinned rectangular
grillage.

deflexion, was 6.4 per cent. I f the torsional b e h a v i o u r had been neglected, the
m a x i m u m error would have been 25.6 per cent. Again, the a c c u r a c y of the
m e t h o d m a y be e x p e c t e d to i m p r o v e for grillages composed of a larger n u m b e r
of units, although this would not be true if the torsional stiffness of the members
was ignored.
6. T H E P L A T E A N A L O G Y
L i g h t f o o t 1 proposes t h a t the numerical finite difference analysis of plates is
equivalent to a grillage analysis where the nodes are replaced b y the joints of a
rectangular grillage. B o t h the flexural stiffness and the torsional stiffness of
 A finite difference analysis of the flexural-torsional behaviour of grillages 221
the bars are taken to be equal to the flexural rigidity of the plate, D, multiplied
by the length of the bars.
The validity of Lightfoot's method is demonstrated b y substituting this
value for the flexural and torsional stiffnesses into the solutions for grillages
obtained in this paper and allowing the grillage meshes to become infinitely
fine. A square mesh will be taken in all cases, so that
a = b (75)
at = fit = D (76)
2D
a2 = ~2 ---- a--~- (77)

The position (X, Y) and distance R of a joint measured from the origin of
co-ordinates are given b y
X = ax, Y = ay, R 2 = X2 + Y2 (78)
and the position of the boundaries b y
A = am, B = an (79)
As the fineness of the mesh increases, the loading tends to an intensity
W
q --- a-~ (80)

For a clamped circular grillage approximating to the corresponding plate,

substituting equations (75)-(80) into equation (51),

As the mesh becomes infinitely fine, the interval a tends to zero and the
deflexion Yx.~ becomes
cox,y - 6~D [A2 - R2]~ (82)

which is the solution given b y Timoshenko and Woinowsky-Krieger n.

Likewise, for the case of a pinned circular plate, substituting equations
(75)-(80) into equation (60),

O3x,y = - ~q_~ [ R~ _ A ~] [UR ~ _ 5A2 +--~j

5a~] (83)
which tends to
OJx,y = ~ [ A2 - R s] [ 5 A ~ - R 2] (84)

as the interval a tends to zero. Timoshenko and Woinowsky-Krieger tt give

[5 + a A ' - R'] (85)

where a is Poisson's ratio, so that the solutions only coincide when a is zero.
222 J . l). RENTON

For the case of a pinned rectangular plate, substituting equations (75)-(~0)

into equations (67)-(68), if
rrrX . ~s Y
qx.~ = q0 sin --4-sin B (86)

where qo is a constant, then

qo a~ 7rrX . 7rsY
Wx,u - Ka sm A sm B (87)
where
arTr
24D [ arlr as~q 1- cos--
K s = - ~ - [2 - cos -A- - cos B - / A + 1 -arrr
Acs aB~r B ~r}
asrr , arrr
5-cos B +2cs A 5 - c o s . +2cos

(ss)
which, as a tends to zero, tends to

Ka=I)a[(-A) + (B)2} 2 (89)

giving
qo ,rrX . ,rs Y
= , 2 2 ' 2 sin--=- Sln (90)
Jx'v
-
4 -! r s | A ~B-

which is identical with the solution given by Timoshenko and Woinowsky-

Krieger 11.
A solution to the clamped rectangular plate problem can similarly be found.
On substituting equations (75)-(80) into equations (63)-(64), if

= q0[cos- A - B -

then
2rrrX 2~rs Y . 2rrX .. 27rs Y]
qz,v = q0 K 3 e s ~ A - - c s B - n s c s -~/i - ~ 7 c o s - - B ] (92)

where K a, K 6 and K~ are given by equations (18), (21) and (22). As a tends to
zero, equation (92) tends to

qx,v = 16q0 D + cos ~ - cos

- cos- -A - cos--B-]

No previous solution in the form given by equations (91)-(93) has been found
by the writer, b u t since it satisfies the boundary conditions and the biharmonic
plate equation, it is an exact solution.

7. CONCLUSIONS
The m e t h o d presented is the first regular grillage analysis which, while
taking full advantage of the regularities, does not sacrifice accuracy by ignoring
torsional effects or by making other approximations to the nature of the grillage.
 A finite difference analysis of the flexural-torsional behaviour of grillages 223

Such a m e t h o d has obvious a d v a n t a g e s for m a n u a l analysis, the deflexions of a

c l a m p e d circular grillage being f o u n d in less t i m e t h a n was needed to p r e p a r e
the d a t a t a p e for the c o m p u t e r solution. H o w e v e r , the a v e r a g e t i m e required
for analyses will be g r e a t e r t h a n this.
The m e t h o d would also be a d v a n t a g e o u s in increasing the speed and c a p a c i t y
of c o m p u t e r analysis. R o u n d i n g - o f f errors are likely to b e c o m e significant w h e n
present c o m p u t e r techniques are applied to grillages with large n u m b e r s of
joints. T h e a c c u r a c y of the m e t h o d described in this p a p e r is not reduced u n d e r
such c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d m a y a c t u a l l y i m p r o v e as the n u m b e r of joints increases,
if the b o u n d a r y conditions h a v e only been a p p r o x i m a t e l y satisfied.
L i g h t f o o t ' s 1 grillage analysis of plates has been shown to coincide with p l a t e
analyses given b y T i m o s h e n k o a n d W o i n o w s k y - K r i e g e r u when the mesh of
the grillages becomes infinitely fine. T h e non-coincidence of solutions in the
case of a pinned circular plate is due to a difference in i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the
b o u n d a r y conditions, a l t h o u g h the b i h a r m o n i c e q u a t i o n is satisfied h y b o t h
m e t h o d s . This will p r o b a b l y be true of a n y case where the b o u n d a r y conditions
are expressed in t e r m s of loads not acting parallel or n o r m a l to the grillage mesh.
I n the case of a grillage, such loads can be resolved vectorially f r o m those
acting in the principal directions, b u t in the case of a plate, the loads m u s t be
resolved tensorially so t h a t the a n a l o g y is lost.

Aehmowledgeme~,ts--The writer is indebted to Dr. R. K. Livesley for the use of his grillage
programme to compare the results obtained in this paper with those given by computer
analysis. He would also like to thank Professor A. H. Chilver and Dr. E. Lightfoot for
their comments on the initial draft.

REFERENCES
1. E. LmHTFOOT, I~*t. J. Mech. Sci. this issue, p. 201.
2. J. M. KLITCHIEFF,Aero~aut. Q. II, 157 (1950).
3. W. W. EWELL, S. OKUBO and J. I. ABRAMS, Tral~s. Amer. Soc. Cir. Engrs. 117, 869
(1952).
4. E. LIGHTFOOTand F. SAWKO, Et~gineeri~sg, Lond. 187, 19 (1959).
5. L. MARTIN and J. HEaNANDEZ, Proc. Amer. Soe. Civ. Engrs. 86 (S.T.I), 1 (1960).
6. A. W. HENDRY and L. G. JAEGER, Proc. I~st. Cir. Engrs. 4, 939 (1955).
7. D. R. HOLMAN, Aeronaut. Q. VIII, 49 (1957).
8. J. P. Er.I,IN(~TONand H. McCALLION, Aeronaut. Q. VIII, 360 (1957).
9. F. W. BESSEL, Kiinigsberger Beobacbtungen, 1. Abt., p. iii (1815).
10. E. T. Wm~rAKER and G. ROBINSON, The Calculus of Observations, p. 260. Blackie,
London (1929).
11. S. TIMOSHENKOand S. WOINOWSKY-KRIEGER,Theory of Plate,* and Shells. McGraw-
Hill, New York (1959).
224 J . D. RENTON

APPENDIX
TABLE 3. D E F L E X I O N S OF T H E GRILLAGE SHOWN IN FIG. 2(a) E X P R E S S E D IN
T E R M S OF T H E P A R A M E T E R ~]x,y

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

37.77 36.25 31.88 25.21 17.19 9.13 2.71

38"08 36.54 32.09 25.31 17.17 9.07 2"68

3 6.2 5 34.76 30-48 23.97 16.17 8.39 2.31

36.54 35.03 30.67 24.04 16.10 8.28 2.26

31"88 30'48 26"48 20"44 13' 29 6"35 1.31

3 2.0 9 30-67 26.61 20-44 13.07 6.07 1.20

25"21 23"97 20"44 15.18 9.13 3"59 0.27

25-31 24'04 20"44 15.06 8' 67 2'94 0'20

17"19 16"17 13"29 9"13 4-60 1-04

17"17 16.10 13.07 8.67 3.58 0.26

T h e u p p e r f i g u r e s i n e a c h r o w a r e g i v e n b y e q u a t i o n (52) a n d t h e l o w e r f i g u r e s w e r e
o b t a i n e d u s i n g L i v e s l e y ' s c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m m e for g r i l l a g e s .

TABLE 4. DEFLEXIONS OF THE GRILLAGE SHOWN IN FIG. 3(a)

EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF THE PARAMETER ~/x,~

1 2 3 4 5 6

1.316 1.847 1.316 0 - 1.316 - 1.847

1.419 1.973 1.413 0.040 - 1.328 - 1.878

1-316 1.847 1.316 0 - 1.316 - 1.847

1.397 1.944 1.393 0.041 - 1.306 - 1.848

0 0 0 0 0 0

- 0.005 - 0.007 - 0-006 - 0.003 - 0.001 - 0-002

-- 1.316 -- 1.847 -- 1.316 0 1.316 1.847

4
-- 1.377 -- 1.915 -- 1.370 -- 0.035 1.295 1.830

T h e u p p e r f i g u r e s i n e a c h r o w a r e g i v e n b y e q u a t i o n (74) a n d t h e l o w e r f i g u r e s w e r e
obtained using Livesley's computer programme for griUages.