Buckling Analysis of Functionally Graded Thick Cylindrical Shells with Variable Thickness Using DQM

In this paper, buckling analysis of a functionally graded thick cylindrical shell with variable thickness subjected to combined external pressure and axial compression is carried out. Moreover, the effect of an axisymmetric imperfection on the buckling load of the shell is investigated. It is assumed that material roperties of the shell vary smoothly through the thickness according to a power law distribution of the volume fraction of constituent materials, while the Poisson’s ratio is assumed to be constant. The shell is considered to be simply supported at both ends. The governing differential equations are obtained based on the second Piola–Kirchhoff stress tensor and are then reduced to a homogenous linear system of equations using differential quadrature method. Effects of several parameters of the shell including the volume fraction of constituents, geometric ratios, thickness variation amplitude factor, imperfection parameter and loading conditions on the buckling behavior of the functionally graded thick cylindrical shell are investigated. The results obtained by the present method are compared with results reported in the literature.