The elastic-plastic-viscous lithosphere
Plate flexure and lithospheric rheology loading of an elastic plate
D=flexural rigidity of the plate E - Young's modulus
Y - Poisson's ratio
h - Thickness of the plate
All forces and torques on a small section of plate with an arbitray load:
q(x) --- downward force per unit length exerted on the plate
V --- a net shear force per unit length, act on the cross section of plate normal to plane of the figure
w --- deflection at the point x
M --- the net bending moment
P --- horizontal forces on the segment that act with a net lever arm length of dw to produce a torque of -P.dw