Thermal post-buckling behavior of ceramic-based FGM circular plates with linear variable thickness

Abstract

The governing differential equations of ceramic-based functionally graded material (FGM) circular plate with linear variable thickness along the radius in thermal environment were established. The thermal post-buckling behaviors of variable thickness FGM circular plate made of ceramic and metal in thermal environment were proposed by the method of shooting technique. The characteristic curves of the thermal post-buckling equilibrium paths of the FGM variable thickness circular plate in uniform and non-uniform heating fields are given. The influence of ceramic gradient index and thickness variation coefficient on post buckling behavior is discussed. The numerical results show that the thermal critical load of non-uniform heating field is less than the one under uniform load. The change of radial thickness does not affect the thermal critical load value, but affects the post-buckling equilibrium path. The center deflection increases with the increase of variable thickness coefficient.

Keywords

• functionally graded material
• variable thickness
• circular plates
• thermal loading
• post-buckling