Analytical modeling for the thermoelastic buckling behavior of functionally graded rectangular plates using hyperbolic shear deformation theory under thermal loadings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate an analytical modeling for the thermoelastic buckling behavior of functionally graded (FG) rectangular plates (FGM) under thermal loadings. The material properties of FGM are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the plate, according to the simple power-law distribution. Derivations of equations are based on novel refined theory using a new hyperbolic shear deformation theory. Unlike other theories, there are only four unknown functions involved, as compared to five in other shear deformation theories. The theory presented is variationally consistent and strongly similar to the classical plate theory in many aspects. It does not require the shear correction factor, and gives rise to the transverse shear stress variation so that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness to satisfy free surface conditions for the shear stress. In addition, numerical results for a variety of FG plates with simply supported edge are presented and compared with those available in the literature. Moreover, the effects of geometrical parameters of dimension the length to width aspect ratio (a/b), the plate width to thickness ratio (b/h), and material properties index (k) on the FGM buckling temperature difference are determined and discussed. Design/methodology/approach – In the current paper, the application of the refined theory proposed by Shimpi is based on the assumption that the in-plane and transverse displacements consist of bending and shear components in which the bending components do not contribute toward shear forces and, likewise, the shear components do not contribute toward bending moments. The most interesting feature of this theory is that it accounts for a quadratic variation of the transverse shear strains across the thickness, and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factors. It is extended to the analysis of buckling behavior of ceramic-metal FG plates subjected to the three types of thermal loadings, namely; uniform temperature rise, linear temperature change across the thickness, and nonlinear temperature change across the thickness. The material properties of the FG plates are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the plate, according to the simple power-law distribution. Numerical results for a variety of FG plates with simply supported edges are given and compared with the available results, wherever possible. Additionally, the effects of geometrical parameters and material properties on the buckling temperature difference of FGM plates are determined and discussed. Findings – Unlike any other theory, the theory presented gives rise to only four governing equations. Number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in case of simple shear deformation theories of Mindlin and Reissner (first shear deformation theory). The plate properties are assumed to be varied through the thickness following a simple power-law distribution in terms of volume fraction of material constituents. The theory presented is variationally consistent, does not require shear correction factor, and gives rise to transverse shear stress variation such that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness satisfying shear stress free surface conditions. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no research works for thermal buckling analysis of FG rectangular plates based on new four-variable refined plate theory (RPT). The novelty of this paper is extended the use of the above-mentioned RPT with the addition of a new function proposed by Shimpi for thermal buckling analysis of plates made of FG materials. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in the case of other shear deformation theories. The theory takes account of transverse shear effects and parabolic distribution of the transverse shear strains through the thickness of the plate, hence it is unnecessary to use shear correction factors. The plates subjected to the two types of thermal loadings, namely; uniform temperature rise and nonlinear temperature change across the thickness. Numerical results for a variety of FG plates with simply supported edges are given and compared with the available results.