Nonlinear bending analysis of shear deformable functionally graded plates subjected to thermo-mechanical loads under various boundary conditions

Nonlinear bending analysis of shear deformable functionally graded plates subjected to thermo-mechanical loads and under various boundary conditions is presented. Theoretical formulations are based on Reddy's higher order shear deformation plate theory and include the thermal effects due to temperature rise. Material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent and graded in the thickness direction according to a power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The temperature field considered is assumed to be uniform in the XY plane and through the plate thickness. The plate may be clamped or simply supported. on two opposite edges with the remaining others being either free, simply supported or clamped. A semi numerical approach, which makes use of multi-parameter perturbation technique, one-dimensional differential quadrature approximation and Galerkin method, is employed to calculate the nonlinear bending of the plates. Numerical results for silicon nitride/stainless steel rectangular plates are given in dimensionless graphical forms. The roles played by the constituent volume fraction index, temperature rise, character of out-of-plane boundary conditions and in-plane constraints, width-to-thickness ratio as well as plate aspect ratio are studied. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.