Arrays of dynamic circular loads moving on an infinite plate

Steady-state dynamic responses of a Kirchhoff plate resting on a viscoelastic Winkler foundation subject to arrays of moving constant and harmonic loads with uniform circular distribution is studied in this paper using Fourier transform and generalized Duhamel’s integral. A computational schema is constructed based on a two-fold fast Fourier transform in a moving co-ordinate system. Numerical case studies using a single moving load as well as four moving loads mimicking four wheel-loads of a moving vehicle are conducted. Parameters of the plate are typical values of structural and material properties of highway pavements. Displacement responses of the plate to these five loading speeds seem to be very close to each other, though the vertical velocity and acceleration responses show considerable differences. The effect of load frequency on amplitude of response of plate is insignificant for parameters used in this study. Copyright q 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd