Application of fast expansions to obtain exact solutions to a problem on rectangular membrane deflection under alternating load

The problem of rectangular membrane deflection under alternating loads is solved in general terms by means of the method of fast expansions. The exact solution is represented by the finite expression borrowed from the theory of fast expansions as a sum of the boundary function and Fourier sine series with two Fourier coefficients taken into account. The obtained exact solution includes free parameters. Changing the values of these parameters, one can derive many new exact solutions.
Obtaining of exact solutions to a problem of the rigidly fixed membrane under two types of loads (dome-shaped and sinusoidal) is shown as an example. Graphs of the dome-shaped and sinusoidal loads on the membrane and the curves of the corresponding deflections and stress components are presented in the paper.
From the analysis of the exact solutions, it is obvious that only when a symmetrical alternating load is used, the membrane maximum deflection is attained in the center of the membrane, and the stresses reach the highest values in the middle of both long sides. In the case of a non-symmetrical load, the maximum stress occurs in the middle of either one of two long sides of the rectangular membrane, and the maximum deflection is found in the central region.