Thermal buckling analysis of FGM sector plates using differential quadrature method

Abstract - In this article, thermal buckling analysis of functionally graded annular sector plate is studied. The mechanical and thermal properties of the functionally graded sector plate are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction. The equilibrium and stability equations are derived based on the first order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT) in conjunction with nonlinear von-karman assumptions. Differential quadrature method is used to discretize the equilibrium and stability equations. In this method a non-uniform mesh point distribution (Chebyshev-Gauss-Lobatto) is used for provide accuracy of solutions and convergence rate. By using this method, there is no restriction on implementation of boundary conditions and various boundary conditions can be implemented along any edges. Finally, The results compared with other researches and the effects of plate thickness, sector angle, annularity, power law index and various boundary conditions on the critical buckling temperature are discussed in details.