Moving least squares differential quadrature method and its application to the analysis of shear deformable plates

A moving least squares di erential quadrature (MLSDQ) method is developed and employed for the analysis of moderately thick plates based on the rst-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). To carry out the analysis, the governing equations in terms of the generalized displacements (transverse de ection and two rotations) of the plate are formulated by employing the moving least squares approximation. The weighting coe cients used in the MLSDQ approximation are computed through a fast computation of shape functions and their derivatives. Numerical examples illustrating the accuracy, stability and convergence of the MLSDQ method are presented. E ects of support size, order of completeness and node irregularity on the numerical accuracy are investigated