SUMMARY
The need. to generalise the usual assumptions made in
the analysis of load diffusion problems has been emphasised by
recent experimental work (Ref. 3)1 which has shown the importance
of bending of the edge members. Direct mathematical
solution of the plate problems, which arise, is hardly feasible
and so in this report a numerical solution using the 'relaxation
method' is carried out. Results show the method to be suitable
for design purposes/ but comparison with experiment still shows
the need for further physical generalisations. These will
form the subject of future work
