There is a question here as to whether a quick and dirty estimate will do or if sophisticated analysis is required. The greater the deflection the greater the slope to be climbed by the jack. If we are to get into sophisticated analysis, we need to know if the plate is just resting on the supports, or if it is bolted. If bolted we could go into membrane theory, provided the supports could resist the horizontal component. Another question for me, how near the right and left hand edges can the jack approach?
With the load at the center, the greatest deflection will be at the same place. The deflection will be a little less ahead of, behind and to the left and right of the center. It will be more reduced a little more forward, back, left and right of the center. A cross section through the center, in both directions will be a curve with the low point at the center. Cross sections further forward and back, left and right will be similarly curved, but the low point will be higher than the center section. This implies that there will be high lines running diagonally from near the center, similar to an upside down vaulted cathedral, to perhaps the corners but perhaps not that far out. This is why I said earlier that the corners try to lift up. Anyone with Roarke can check me on this. If the corners lift, the ridges go towards the last contact point with the support. The point of this is that the load from the jack and the whole weight of the plate is carried by only the center part that is in contact with the support.
The point all of this is to give my reason for my conservative approximation. It is less generous than it sounds. In this case the width of the load plus 1'-0" (1/4 of the span).
Personally, I would be more concerned with the slope and whether the edge on the support would lift than I would the stress. Function must be catered for before we think of stress.
Michael.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.