Based on the modified couple stress theory, an attempt is made in this study to analyze the nonlinear snap-through instability of shallow sandwich arches. The microstructure-dependent functionally graded material (FGM) arch with surface bonded piezoelectric actuator layers is analyzed. The piezo-FGM sandwich arch is subjected to uniform transverse pressure load in thermo-electrical environment. All material properties of the FGM micro arch are assumed to be temperature- and position-dependent. The governing equilibrium equations of the piezo-FGM sandwich arch are established with the aid of virtual displacement principle and the uncoupled thermoelacticity theory. The obtained governing differential equations are based on the first-order shear deformation shallow arch theory of the Timoshenko and von Kármán nonlinear assumptions. These equilibrium equations contain three coupled ordinary differential equations in terms of displacements. The nondimensional governing equations are solved for the cases of piezo-FGM sandwich arches with simply supported and clamped boundary conditions by using the two-step perturbation technique. Analytical closed-form solutions are derived to give the deflected shape of the piezo-FGM sandwich arch with immovable ends. Comparison is made with the existing results for the cases of FGM arch without couple stress and piezoelectric layers, where good agreement is obtained. The nonlinear behavior of the sandwich arches is highly affected by the couple stress, piezoelectric layers, temperature change, volume fraction index, and geometrical properties of the arch.
