Single variable new first-order shear deformation theory for isotropic plates

Abstract This paper presents a single variable new first-order shear deformation plate theory with only one fourth-order partial governing differential equation. It may be noted that, first-order shear deformation plate theory of Mindlin has three coupled partial governing differential equations involving three unknown functions. Even a recently developed new first-order shear deformation plate theory has two uncoupled partial governing differential equations involving two unknown functions for static problems. The displacement functions of the proposed theory give rise to constant transverse ...