Free vibration analysis of a laminated composite rectangular plate in contact with a bounded fluid

In This study hydrostatic vibration analysis of a laminated composite rectangular plate partially contacting with a bounded fluid is investigated. Wet dynamic transverse displacements of the plate are approximated by a set of admissible trial functions which are required to satisfy the clamped and simply supported geometric boundary conditions. Fluid velocity potential satisfying fluid boundary conditions is derived and wet dynamic modal functions of the plate are expanded in terms of finite Fourier series for compatibility requirement along the contacting surface between the plate and the fluid. Natural frequencies of the plate coupled with sloshing fluid modes are calculated using Rayleigh–Ritz method based on minimizing the Rayleigh quotient. The proposed analytical method is validated with available data in the literature. Using numerical data provided, effect of different parameters including boundary conditions, aspect ratio, thickness ratio, fiber orientation, material properties of the laminas and dimensions of the tank on the plate natural frequencies are examined and discussed in detail.