• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.291-306
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• 2021

Based on Reissner's mixed variational theorem (RMVT), the authors develop a semi-analytical finite element (FE) method for a three-dimensional (3D) bending analysis of nonhomogeneous orthotropic, complete and incomplete toroidal shells subjected to uniformly-distributed loads. In this formulation, the toroidal shell is divided into several finite annular prisms (FAPs) with quadrilateral cross-sections, where trigonometric functions and serendipity polynomials are used to interpolate the circumferential direction and meridian-radial surface variations in the primary field variables of each individual prism, respectively. The material properties of the toroidal shell are considered to be nonhomogeneous orthotropic over the meridianradial surface, such that homogeneous isotropic toroidal shells, laminated cross-ply toroidal shells, and single- and bi-directional functionally graded toroidal shells can be included as special cases in this work. Implementation of the current FAP methods shows that their solutions converge rapidly, and the convergent FAP solutions closely agree with the 3D elasticity solutions available in the literature.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.367-383
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• 2023

The present paper examines the natural frequency responses of the bi-directional (n_x-n_y, n_y-n_z and n_z-n_x) and multidirectional (n_x-n_y-n_z) functionally graded (FG) plate and curved structures with and without porosity. The even and uneven kind of porosity pattern are considered to observe the influence of porosity type and porosity index. The numerical findings have been obtained using a higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) based isometric finite element (FE) approach generated in a MATLAB platform. According to the convergence and validation investigation, the proposed HSDT based FE model is adequate to predict free vibrational responses of multidirectional porous FG plates and curved structures. Further a parametric analysis is carried out by taking various design parameters into account. The free vibrational behavior of bidirectional (2D) and multidirectional (3D) perfect-imperfect FGM structure is examined against various power law index, support conditions, aspect, and thickness ratio, and for the curvature of curved structures. The results indicate that the maximum non-dimensional fundamental frequency (NFF) value is observed in perfect FGM plates and curved structures compared to porous FGM plates and curved structures and it is maximum for FGM plates and curved structures with uneven kind of porosity than even porosity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.501-513
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• 2024

Two-directional functionally graded materials (2D-FGMs) show extraordinary physical properties which makes them ideal candidates for designing smart micro-switches. Pull-in instability is one of the most critical challenges in the design of electrostatically-actuated microswitches. The present research aims to bridge the gap in the static pull-in instability analysis of microswitches composed of 2D-FGM. Euler-Bernoulli beam theory with geometrical nonlinearity effect (i.e. von-Karman nonlinearity) in conjunction with the modified couple stress theory (MCST) are employed for mathematical formulation. The micro-switch is subjected to electrostatic actuation with fringing field effect and Casimir force. Hamilton's principle is utilized to derive the governing equations of the system and corresponding boundary conditions. Due to the extreme nonlinear coupling of the governing equations and boundary conditions as well as the existence of terms with variable coefficients, it was difficult to solve the obtained equations analytically. Therefore, differential quadrature method (DQM) is hired to discretize the obtained nonlinear coupled equations and non-classical boundary conditions. The result is a system of nonlinear coupled algebraic equations, which are solved via Newton-Raphson method. A parametric study is then implemented for clamped-clamped and cantilever switches to explore the static pull-in response of the system. The influences of the FG indexes in two directions, length scale parameter, and initial gap are discussed in detail.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2020

In this paper, for the first time based on the nonlocal strain gradient theory the effect of size dependency in torsional vibration of bi-direction functionally graded (FG) nonlinear nano-cone is study. The material properties were assumed to vary according to the arbitrary function in radial and axial directions. The Navier equation and boundary conditions of the size-dependent bidirectional FG nonlinear nano-cone were derived by Hamilton's principle. These equations were solved by employing the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). The presented model can turn into the classical model if the material length scale parameters are taken to be zero. The effects of some parameters, such as inhomogeneity constant, cross-sectional area parameter and small-scale parameters, were studied. As an essential result of this study can be stated that an FG nano-cone model based on the nonlocal elasticity theory behaves softer and based on the strain gradient theory behaves harder.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.363-377
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• 2018

An efficient and free of shear locking finite element model is developed and employed to study free vibration of tapered bidirectional functionally graded material (BFGM) beams. The beam material is assumed to be formed from four distinct constituent materials whose volume fraction continuously varies along the longitudinal and thickness directions by power-law functions. The finite element formulation based on the first-order shear deformation theory is derived by using hierarchical functions to interpolate the displacement field. In order to improve efficiency and accuracy of the formulation, the shear strain is constrained to constant and the exact variation of the cross-sectional profile is employed to compute the element stiffness and mass matrices. A comprehensive parametric study is carried out to highlight the influence of the material distribution, the taper and aspect ratios as well as the boundary conditions on the vibration characteristics. Numerical investigation reveals that the proposed model is efficient, and it is capable to evaluate the natural frequencies of BFGM beams by using a small number of the elements. It is also shown that the effect of the taper ratio on the fundamental frequency of the BFGM beams is significantly influenced by the boundary conditions. The present results are of benefit to optimum design of tapered FGM beam structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.443-459
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• 2023

This paper investigates the stability of a bi-directional functionally graded (BD-FG) cylindrical beam made of imperfect concrete, taking into account size-dependency and the effect of geometry on its stability behavior. Both buckling and dynamic behavior are analyzed using the modified coupled stress theory and the classical beam theory. The BD-FG structure is created by using porosity-dependent FG concrete, with changing porosity voids and material distributions along the pipe radius, as well as uniform and nonuniform radius functions that vary along the beam length. Energy principles are used to generate partial differential equations (PDE) for stability analysis, which are then solved numerically. This study sheds light on the complex behavior of BD-FG structures, and the results can be useful for the design of stable cylindrical microstructures.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-373
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• 2024

The present study aims to investigate the free vibration of bi-directional functionally graded (BDFG) beams using a refined shear deformation (RSD) theory. Power law variation of material composition was considered along thickness and longitudinal directions. The beams are considered simply supported. The methodology adopted is the Hamilton principle and the governing equation was solved using Navier's method for simply supported boundary conditions. A metal-ceramic combination of materials was used to provide gradation as per power law variation. The equivalent elasticity modulus and density of BDFG were computed using the rule of mixture. The results of the study were related to published works and found to be a good match. The effect of grading parameters in the thickness and longitudinal direction was studied to investigate its impact on the natural frequency.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.113-130
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• 2023

The present manuscript aims to investigate the deviation between the middle surface (MS) and neutral surface (NS) formulations on the static response of bi-directionally functionally graded (BDFG) porous plate. The higher order shear deformation plate theory with a four variable is exploited to define the displacement field of BDFG plate. The displacement field variables based on both NS and on MS are presented in detail. These relations tend to get and derive a new set of boundary conditions (BCs). The porosity distribution is portrayed by cosine function including three different configurations, center, bottom, and top distributions. The elastic foundation including shear and normal stiffnesses by Winkler-Pasternak model is included. The equilibrium equations based on MS and NS are derived by using Hamilton's principles and expressed by variable coefficient partial differential equations. The numerical differential quadrature method (DQM) is adopted to solve the derived partial differential equations with variable coefficient. Rigidities coefficients and stress resultants for both MS and NS formulations are derived. The mathematical formulation is proved with previous published work. Additional numerical and parametric results are developed to present the influences of modified boundary conditions, NS and MS formulations, gradation parameters, elastic foundations coefficients, porosity type and porosity coefficient on the static response of BDFG porous plate. The following model can be used in design and analysis of BDFG structure used in aerospace, vehicle, dental, bio-structure, civil and nuclear structures.