Thermal post-buckling analysis of functionally graded material structures using a modified FSDT

• Published in: International journal of mechanical sciences 2018-08, Vol.144, p.74-89
• Main Authors: Trabelsi, S., Frikha, A., Zghal, S., Dammak, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FGM; Four nodes shell elements; Green–Lagrange; Modified FSDT; Shell; Thermal post-buckling
• ISSN: 0020-7403; 1879-2162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2018.05.033

•Thermal post-buckling analysis of functionally graded material shell structures is investigated.•A modified FSDT theory is used.•Transverse shear deformations are considered.•Numerical examples of FGM plates and cylindrical shells are presented in order to show the applicability and the efficiency of the present model. [Display omitted] The thermal post-buckling responses of Functionally Graded Material shell structures are reported in this paper. Geometrically nonlinear analysis based on a modified First order Shear Deformation Theory are proposed. The modified theory takes into account the shear strains with a parabolic shape function and it verifies a zero shear stresses condition at the top and bottom surfaces. For the numerical computation, four nodes shell elements are implemented. The large displacement is described by Green–Lagrange nonlinear strains. Moreover, it is assumed that the shell structures are exposed to uniform, linear and nonlinear temperature distributions through the thickness direction. The thermal and the mechanical properties are described according to a power law distribution and either temperature-independent or temperature-dependent material properties are considered. Two numerical examples of functionally graded plates and cylindrical shells are presented to highlight the effectiveness and the accuracy of the present finite element procedure. The effect the geometrical parameters, the volume fraction index and boundary conditions on nonlinear responses are performed.