An elasticity solution of FGM rectangular plate under cylindrical bending

In this paper, an exact elasticity solution of functionally graded material (FGM) rectangular plate under cylindrical bending is presented. The formulation is based on the displacement approach in which 3D elasticity equations are reduced to 2-D equations using plane-strain conditions. In the present formulation, an exact elasticity solution is feasible due to the consideration of simply supported boundary conditions with applied loads expressed in harmonic forms. Functionally graded material (FGM) infinite rectangular plate subjected to realistic transverse normal loads are analyzed. Solutions have been presented for FGM plate with various aspect ratios and gradation factors. Variation of displacements and stresses through the thickness has been investigated for the FGM plate subjected to single sinusoidal load, uniformly distributed load, hydrostatic load, and strip load. Validation of results is presented using reference results in the literature. The extensive results presented in this paper can be served as benchmark solutions for the assessment of improved plate theories.