A flat plate in the context of research typically refers to a simple and common structure used in various engineering and scientific disciplines. It is a thin, flat, rectangular or square piece of material with uniform thickness, typically made of metal, plastic, or composite materials. Flat plates are often used in experiments or simulations to study fluid flow, heat transfer, structural mechanics, and other phenomena. Research on flat plates may involve analyzing their mechanical behavior, studying their aerodynamic properties, or optimizing their design for specific applications. Overall, flat plates serve as a fundamental building block for research in many engineering fields.