Effects of non-linear hygrothermal conditions on the buckling of FG sandwich plates resting on elastic foundations using a hyperbolic shear deformation theory

Abstract

The non-linear hygrothermal and mechanical buckling responses of FG sandwich plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations are presented in this study. Non-linear Fourier temperature distribution is considered as a special case. A hyperbolic displacement model is proposed in the present investigation. The present model involves four unknown variables, and the shear stresses on the bottom and top of the plate surfaces are equal to zero. The effective material properties of the FG sandwich face sheets are presumed to be varied in the direction of the thickness using a simple power law distribution, while the core is supposed to be purely ceramic. The stability equations are deduced by the principle of virtual work, containing the effect of foundations interaction and hygrothermal effects based on the present model. The hygrothermal effects are considered as non-linear, linear and uniform distribution through the plate thickness. Comparison examples are presented to verify the accuracy of the present model. The effects played by the temperature rise, moisture concentration, parameters of elastic foundation, side-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio of the plate, the inhomogeneity parameter on the critical buckling of FG sandwich plates are investigated.