Exact bending solution of inhomogeneous plates from homogeneous thin-plate deflection

Based on the first-order shear deformation theory, an exact solution for sandwich plates with dissimilar facings by the use of the potential function technique is presented. The solution is expressed in terms of the deflection of a homogeneous Kirchhoff thin plate and is valid for simply supported polygonal plates made of isotropic materials. Because of its mathematical similarity, the solution for functionally graded plates is also presented.