• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2018

This work investigates a novel plate formulation and a modified couple stress theory that introduces a variable length scale parameter is presented to discuss the static and dynamic of functionally graded (FG) micro-plates. A new type of third-order shear deformation theory of Reddy that use only 4 unknowns by including undetermined integral variables is proposed in this study. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's principle. Analytical solutions are obtained for a simply supported micro-plate. Numerical examples are presented to examine the effect of the length scale parameter on the responses of micro-plates. The obtained results are compared with the previously published results to demonstrate the correctness of the present formulation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.573-585
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• 2018

This article presents strain gradient elasticity-based procedures for static bending, free vibration and buckling analyses of functionally graded rectangular micro-plates. The developed method allows consideration of smooth spatial variations of length scale parameters of strain gradient elasticity. Governing partial differential equations and boundary conditions are derived by following the variational approach and applying Hamilton's principle. Displacement field is expressed in a unified way to produce numerical results in accordance with Kirchhoff, Mindlin, and third order shear deformation theories. All material properties, including the length scale parameters, are assumed to be functions of the plate thickness coordinate in the derivations. Developed equations are solved numerically by means of differential quadrature method. Proposed procedures are verified through comparisons made to the results available in the literature for certain limiting cases. Further numerical results are provided to illustrate the effects of material and geometric parameters on bending, free vibrations, and buckling. The results generated by Kirchhoff and third order shear deformation theories are in very good agreement, whereas Mindlin plate theory slightly overestimates static deflection and underestimates natural frequency. A rise in the length scale parameter ratio, which identifies the degree of spatial variations, leads to a drop in dimensionless maximum deflection, and increases in dimensionless vibration frequency and buckling load. Size effect is shown to play a more significant role as the plate thickness becomes smaller compared to the length scale parameter. Numerical results indicate that consideration of length scale parameter variation is required for accurate modelling of graded rectangular micro-plates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.431-448
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• 2012

In this paper, the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) (Mindlin) for continuum incorporating surface energy is exploited to study the static behavior of ultra-thin functionally graded (FG) plates. The size-dependent mechanical response is very important while the plate thickness reduces to micro/nano scales. Bulk stresses on the surfaces are required to satisfy the surface balance conditions involving surface stresses. Unlike the classical continuum plate models, the bulk transverse normal stress is preserved here. By incorporating the surface energies into the principle of minimum potential energy, a series of continuum governing differential equations which include intrinsic length scales are derived. The modifications over the classical continuum stiffness are also obtained. To illustrate the application of the theory, simply supported micro/nano scaled rectangular films subjected to a transverse mechanical load are investigated. Numerical examples are presented to present the effects of surface energies on the behavior of functionally graded (FG) film, whose effective elastic moduli of its bulk material are represented by the simple power law. The proposed model is then used for a comparison between the continuum analysis of FG ultra-thin plates with and without incorporating surface effects. Also, the transverse shear strain effect is studied by a comparison between the FG plate behavior based on Kirchhoff and Mindlin assumptions. In our analysis the residual surface tension under unstrained conditions and the surface Lame constants are expected to be the same for the upper and lower surfaces of the FG plate. The proposed model is verified by previous work.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.105-130
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• 2015

In this paper, the classical continuum mechanics is adopted and modified to be consistent with the unique behavior of micro/nano solids. At first, some kinematical principles are discussed to illustrate the effect of the discrete nature of the microstructure of micro/nano solids. The fundamental equations and relations of the modified couple stress theory are derived to illustrate the microstructural effects on nanostructures. Moreover, the effect of the material surface energy is incorporated into the modified continuum theory. Due to the reduced coordination of the surface atoms a residual stress field, namely surface pretension, is generated in the bulk structure of the continuum. The essential kinematical and kinetically relations of nano-continuums are derived and discussed. These essential relations are used to derive a size-dependent model for Mindlin functionally graded (FG) nano-plates. An analytical solution is derived to show the feasibility of the proposed size-dependent model. A parametric study is provided to express the effect of surface parameters and the effect of the microstructure couple stress on the bending behavior of a simply supported FG nano plate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.6
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• pp.813-822
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• 2022

In this article, the buckling and free vibration of multi-directional FGM sandwich plates are investigated. The material properties of FGM sandwich plates are assumed to be varying continuously in the in the longitudinal, transverse and thickness directions. The material properties are evaluated based on Voigt's micro-mechanical model considering power law distribution method with arbitrary power index. Equations of motion for the buckling and vibration analysis of multi-directional FGM sandwich plate are obtained based on refined shear deformation theory. Analytical solution for simply supported multidirectional FGM sandwich plate is carried out using Navier's solution technique. The FGM sandwich plate considered in this work has a homogeneous ceramic core and two functionally graded face sheets. Influence of volume fraction index in the longitudinal, transverse and thickness direction, layer thickness, and geometrical parameter over natural frequency and critical buckling load of multi-directional FGM sandwich plate is investigated. The finding shows a multi-directional functionally graded structures perform better compared to uni-directional gradation. Hence, critical grading parameters have been identified which will guide researchers in selecting fabrication routes for improving the performance of such structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.621-640
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• 2022

In the present article, the vibration response of a geometrically imperfect bi-directional functionally graded plate (2D-FGP) with geometric discontinuities and micro-structural defects (porosities) has been investigated. A porosity model has been developed to incorporate the effective material properties of the bi-directional FGP which varies in two directions i.e. along the axial and transverse direction. The geometric discontinuity is also introduced in the plate in the form of a circular cut-out at the center of the plate. The structural kinematic formulation is based on the non-polynomial trigonometric higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). Finite element formulation is done using C° continuous Lagrangian quadrilateral four-noded element with seven degrees of freedom per node. The equations of motion have been derived using a variational approach. Convergence and validation studies have been documented to confirm the accuracy and efficiency of the present formulation. A detailed investigation study has been done to evaluate the influence of the circular cut-out, geometric imperfection, porosity inclusions, partial supports, volume fraction indexes (along with the thickness and length), and geometrical configurations on the vibration response of 2D-FGP. It is concluded that after a particular cut-out dimension, the vibration response of the 2D FGP exhibits non-monotonic behavior.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-53
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• 2016

Flexural bending analysis of perfect and imperfect functionally graded materials plates under hygro-thermo-mechanical loading are investigated in this present paper. Due to technical problems during FGM fabrication, porosities and micro-voids can be created inside FGM samples which may lead to the reduction in density and strength of materials. In this investigation, the FGM plates are assumed to have even and uneven distributions of porosities over the plate cross-section. The modified rule of mixture is used to approximate material properties of the FGM plates including the porosity volume fraction. In order the elastic coefficients, thermal coefficient and moisture expansion coefficient of the plate are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction. The elastic foundation is modeled as two-parameter Pasternak foundation. The equilibrium equations are given and a number of examples are solved to illustrate bending response of Metal-Ceramic plates subjected to hygro-thermo-mechanical effects and resting on elastic foundations. The influences played by many parameters are investigated.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.583-593
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• 2017

This research deals with the nonlocal temperature-dependent dynamic buckling analysis of embedded sandwich micro plates reinforced by functionally graded carbon nanotubes (FG-CNTs). The material properties of structure are assumed viscoelastic based on Kelvin-Voigt model. The effective material properties of structure are considered based on mixture rule. The elastic medium is simulated by orthotropic visco-Pasternak medium. The motion equations are derived applying Sinusoidal shear deformation theory (SSDT) in which the size effects are considered using Eringen's nonlocal theory. The differential quadrature (DQ) method in conjunction with the Bolotin's methods is applied for calculating resonance frequency and dynamic instability region (DIR) of structure. The effects of different parameters such as volume percent of CNTs, distribution type of CNTs, temperature, nonlocal parameter and structural damping on the dynamic instability of visco-system are shown. The results are compared with other published works in the literature. Results indicate that the CNTs have an important role in dynamic stability of structure and FGX distribution type is the better choice.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.337-353
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• 2021

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are widely employed in sensors, biomedical devices, optic sectors, and micro-accelerometers. New reinforcement materials such as carbon nanotubes as well as graphene platelets provide stiffer structures with controllable mechanical specifications by changing the graphene platelet features. This paper deals with buckling analyses of functionally graded graphene platelets micro plates with two piezoelectric layers subjected to external applied voltage. Governing equations are based on Kirchhoff plate theory assumptions beside the modified couple stress theory to incorporate the micro scale influences. A uniform temperature change and external electric field are regarded along the micro plate thickness. Moreover, an external in-plane mechanical load is uniformly distributed along the micro plate edges. The Hamilton's principle is employed to extract the governing equations. The material properties of each composite layer reinforced with graphene platelets of the considered micro plate are evaluated by the Halpin-Tsai micromechanical model. The governing equations are solved by the Navier's approach for the case of simply-supported boundary condition. The effects of the external applied voltage, the material length scale parameter, the thickness of the piezoelectric layers, the side, the length and the weight fraction of the graphene platelets as well as the graphene platelets distribution pattern on the critical buckling temperature change and on the critical buckling in-plane load are investigated. The outcomes illustrate the reduction of the thermal buckling strength independent of the graphene platelets distribution pattern while meanwhile the mechanical buckling strength is promoted. Furthermore, a negative voltage, -50 Volt, strengthens the micro plate stability against the thermal buckling occurrence about 9% while a positive voltage, 50 Volt, decreases the critical buckling load about 9% independent of the graphene platelet distribution pattern.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1239-1259
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• 2016

The modified couple stress-based third-order shear deformation theory is presented for sigmoid functionally graded materials (S-FGM) plates. The advantage of the modified couple stress theory is the involvement of only one material length scale parameter which causes to create symmetric couple stress tensor and to use it more easily. Analytical solution for dynamic instability analysis of S-FGM plates on elastic medium is investigated. The present models contain two-constituent material variation through the plate thickness. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's energy principle. The governing equations are then written in the form of Mathieu-Hill equations and then Bolotin's method is employed to determine the instability regions. The boundaries of the instability regions are represented in the dynamic load and excitation frequency plane. It is assumed that the elastic medium is modeled as Pasternak elastic medium. The effects of static and dynamic load, power law index, material length scale parameter, side-to-thickness ratio, and elastic medium parameter have been discussed. The width of the instability region for an S-FGM plate decreases with the decrease of material length scale parameter. The study is relevant to the dynamic simulation of micro structures embedded in elastic medium subjected to intense compression and tension.