The stability of FGM truncated conical shells under combined axial and external mechanical loads in the framework of the shear deformation theory

The major goal of this research was to obtain a closed form of the solution for critical combined loads (combined effects of the axial load and 1 lateral pressure or the axial load and hydrostatic pressure) of functionally graded (FG) truncated conical shell in the framework of the shear deformation theory (SDT). The basic equations of FG truncated conical shell shells subjected to the combined loads are derived in the framework of the SDT. By using the Galerkin method to basic equations are obtained the expressions for critical combined loads of FG truncated conical shell in the framework of the SDT. In particular, similar expressions in the framework of the classical shell theory (CST) are obtained, also. Our numerical experiments reveal that the proposed solution may offer accurate critical combined loads for the FGM shells as compared with reference solutions available in the literature. Finally, the calculation and presentation of the effects of many parameters included in the analysis conclude the goals to be reached in the study. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.