Abstract: Large deflection bending problems of perfect and initially imperfect thin plates arc analysed by spline function method. The cubic spline is used as the interpolating functions, of the displacement components u, v and w. Formulas for dealing with usual boundary conditions arc given. Several examples arc given in the end of the papcr..In comparison with FEM, the spline function method has the following adavantagcs; higher accuracy, less preparatory work of the program and shorter CPU time.

Key words: spline function method, thin plate, large deflection bending