Flexural vibrations of a rectangular plate for the lower normal modes

Theoretical and experimental results for flexural waves of a rectangular plate with free ends are obtained. Both the natural frequencies and mode shapes are analyzed for the lower normal modes. To take into account the boundary conditions, a plane wave expansion method is used to solve the thin plate theory also known as the 2D Kirchhoff–Love equation. The excitation and detection of the normal modes of the out-of-plane waves are performed using non-contact electromagnetic-acoustic transducers. We conclude that this experimental technique is highly reliable due to the good agreement between theory and experiment.