A finite-difference analysis of the large deflection response of uniformly loaded square, circular and elliptical clamped and simplysupported orthotropic plates is presented. Several types of non-uniform (graded) mesh are investigated and a mesh suited to the curved boundary of the orthotropic circular and elliptical plate is identified. The DXDR method–a variant of the DR (dynamic relaxation) method–is used to solve the finite-difference forms of the governing orthotropic plate equations. The DXDR method and irregular rectilinear mesh are combined along with the Cartesian coordinates to treat all types of boundaries and to analyze the large deformation of non-isotropic circular/elliptical plates. The results obtained from plate analyses demonstrate the potential of the non-uniform meshes employed and it is shown that they are in good agreement with other results for square, circular and elliptical isotropic and orthotropic clamped and simply-supported plates in both fixed and movable cases subjected to transverse pressure loading.

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