On displacement based non-local models for non-linear vibrations of thin nano plates

This paper addresses the formulation of displacement based, non-linear, plate models adopting Eringen's non-local elasticity, to study the modes of vibration of thin, nano plates. Plate models governed by ordinary differential equations of motion with generalized displacements as unknowns have some advantages over mixed type formulations, but difficulties arise in the development of such non-linear models when non-local effects are taken into account. To circumvent those difficulties, approximations of debatable justification can be imposed. Different approximations are discussed here and the accuracy of the best non-local, non-linear displacement based model achieved is put to test, by carrying out comparisons with a model based on Airy’s stress function