Thermo-mechanical buckling analysis of embedded nanosize FG plates in thermal environments via an inverse cotangential theory

In this article, thermal buckling behavior of size-dependent functionally graded nanoplates resting on two-parameter elastic foundation under various types of thermal environments is studied based on a new refined trigonometric shear deformation theory for the first time. It is assumed that the FG nanoplate is exposed to uniform, linear and sinusoidal temperature rises. Mori-Tanaka model is adopted to describe gradually variation of material properties along the plate thickness. Size-dependency of nanosize FG plate is captured by using nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen. Through Hamilton's principle the governing equations are derived for a refined four-variable shear deformation plate theory and then solved analytically. A variety of examples is presented to indicate the importance of elastic foundation parameters, various temperature fields, nonlocality, material composition, aspect and side-to-thickness ratios on critical buckling temperatures of FG nanoplate. Hence, the present study provides beneficial results for the accurate design of FG nanostructures subjected to various thermo-mechanical loadings. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.