Buckling Analysis of Moderately Thick FGM Plates using the Finite Strip Method

In this paper, the application of the semi-analytical finite strip method (FSM) will be extended so as to analyze the buckling behavior of plates constructed of functionally graded material (FGM). FGMs are microscopically inhomogeneous in which the mechanical properties vary smoothly and continuously from one surface to the other one. The plates’ boundary conditions are assumed to be either simply supported in all the edges or clamped in the longitudinal edges of plate. The fundamental eigen-buckling equations for the plates are obtained by discretizing the plate into some strips, called functionally graded strip (FGS), which are developed on the basis of the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The solution is obtained by the minimization of the total potential energy. Numerical results for a variety of functionally graded plates subjected to three types of mechanical in-plane loadings (i.e. uniaxial compression, biaxial compression, and biaxial compression and tension) will be given in some dimensionless graphical forms. Moreover, the effects of geometrical parameters and material properties on the buckling load capacity of FGM plates will be determined and discussed.

Keywords:

Buckling , Functionally Graded Material , First Order Shear Deformation Theory , Finite Strip Method