Nonlinear thermo-inertial instability of functionally graded shape memory alloy sandwich plates

The nonlinear thermal instability of moving sandwich plates subjected to a constant moving speed is investigated. The sandwich plates are made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) fiber reinforced composite core and two functionally graded (FG) face sheets (FG/SMA/FG). The Brinson model is used for Modeling of SMA behavior, and the geometrically nonlinear third-order shear deformation theory is used for modeling of sandwich plates. Thermomechanical properties of the sandwich plate are assumed to be temperature-dependent. Two types of in-plane boundary conditions are considered. The nonlinear instability is treated by the Galerkin technique. The results show that the initial equilibrium configuration of the sandwich plate becomes unstable at a critical moving speed. Results examine the effect of axial moving speed, SMA volume fraction, pre-strain of SMA fiber, core thickness, imperfection, in-plane boundary conditions, and thermal loading on the stability characteristics of the sandwich plates. It is found that a proper application of SMA fibers postpone the thermal buckling and critical moving speed. Furthermore, the induced tensile recovery stress of SMA fibers could also stabilize geometrically imperfect plates during the reverse martensite transformation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.