Thermal buckling of imperfect functionally graded plates

Thermal buckling analysis of rectangular functionally graded plates (FGPs) with geometrical imperfections is presented in this paper. The equilibrium, stability, and compatibility equations of an imperfect functionally graded plate are derived using the classical plate theory. It is assumed that the nonhomogeneous mechanical properties of the plate, graded through thickness, are described by a power function of the thickness variable. The plate is assumed to be under three types of thermal loading as uniform temperature rise, nonlinear temperature rise through the thickness, and axial temperature rise. Resulting equations are employed to obtain the closed-form solutions for the critical buckling temperature change of an imperfect FGP. The results are reduced and compared with the results of perfect functionally graded and imperfect isotropic plates. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.