A New Four Variable Refined Shear

Deformation Theory for Buckling

and Vibration of Functionally Graded Plates

Ahmed Bakora(&), Fouad Bourada, Abdelouhed Tounsi,

and Adda Bedia El Abbas

Material and Hydrology Laboratory, Faculty of Technology,

Civil Engineering Department, University of Sidi Bel Abbes,
Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria
bakora2010@live.fr

Abstract. A new four variable shear deformation theory is developed for

buckling, and vibration of functionally graded plates. The theory accounts for
parabolic distribution of transverse shear stress, and satisfies the free transverse
shear stress conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using
shear correction factor. Unlike the conventional shear deformation theory, the
proposed four variables refined shear deformation theory contains only four
unknowns and has strong similarities with classical plate theory in many aspects
such as equations of motion, boundary conditions, and stress resultant expres-
sions. The material properties of plate are assumed to vary according to power
law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. Equations of motion
are derived from the Hamilton’s principle. The closed-form solutions of simply
supported plates are obtained and the results are compared with those of first-
order shear deformation theory and higher-order shear deformation theory. It can
be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and efficient in predicting the
buckling, and vibration responses of functionally graded plates.

Keywords: Buckling
Vibration
Functionally graded plate
Plate theory

1 Introduction

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are a new class of composite structures that is of
great interest for engineering design and manufacture. FGMs are heterogeneous com-
posite materials, in which the material properties vary continuously from one interface to
the other. This is achieved by gradually varying the volume fraction of the constituent
materials. Rectangular thick plates made of FGMs are often employed as a part of
engineering structures. Analytical studies on FG rectangular thick plates are, however,
rare whereas several studies have been numerically performed to analyze the mechan-
ical, thermal or the thermo-mechanical responses of FG rectangular plates. When the
plate is thin, the classical plate theory (CPT) is used to analyze FG rectangular plate
problem. In an outstanding work on the free vibration analysis of thin rectangular plates
with a pair of opposite edges simply supported, exact solutions were presented by Leissa
(1973) for all possible combinations of classical boundary conditions along the other
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
B. Abdelbaki et al. (Eds.): SMSD 2017, Proceedings of the Third International
Symposium on Materials and Sustainable Development, pp. 34–43, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89707-3_5
 A New Four Variable Refined Shear Deformation Theory 35

edges. Due to ignoring the effect of shear deformation through the plate thickness, the
CPT is valid only for thin plates and gives proper results for lower frequencies. In
addition, the CPT underestimates deflections and overestimates frequencies. In order to
eliminate the deficiency of the CPT for moderately thick plates, the first order shear
deformation theory (FSDT), including the effects of transverse shear deformation and
rotary inertia, was employed by many research groups using analytical and numerical
methods. Hosseini Hashemi et al. (2010) presented an analytical method for free
vibration analysis of moderately thick FG rectangular plates supported by either Winkler
or Pasternak elastic foundations The application of the Reissner Mindlin theory to plate
problem has attracted the attention of many researchers. Various methods have been
applied to compute natural frequencies and buckling loads for thick rectangular plates
with different boundary condition, namely the analytical Navier (Reddy and Phan
(1985)) and Levy (Liew et al. (1996); Zenkour (2001)) solutions, the Rayleigh–Ritz
method (Liew et al. (1995), (1998); Wang et al. (1994); Kitipornchai et al. (1993);
Cheung and Zhou (2000)). A new formula for the shear correction factors, used in the
Mindlin plate theory, was obtained for FG plates. Although many studies on the
vibration analysis of FG rectangular Mindlin plates have been carried out, the FSDT
requires shear correction factor, depending on geometric parameters, boundary condi-
tions, loading of the plate and the materials. This is due to the fact that the FSDT
overestimates frequencies for thick FG plates, whereas third order shear deformation
plate theory (TSDT), higher-order shear deformation plate theory (HSDT) and the three
dimensional (3-D) elasticity solution not only require no shear correction factor but also
model a plate with smaller displacements and higher rigidity. Reddy and Phan (1985)
have used the Navier solution in order to analyze the free vibration and buckling of
isotropic, orthotropic and laminated rectangular plates with simply supported edge
condition according to the HOPT of Reddy (1999). Hanna and Leissa (1994) have
developed a completely higher order shear deformation plate theory, including energy
functional, equation of motion and boundary condition. They have used Rayleigh–Ritz
method for free vibration solution of fully free rectangular plate.
The objective of this paper is to propose a new exact closed form approach for free
vibration and buckling analysis of thick rectangular FG plates based on the third-order
shear deformation theory. The material properties are assumed to be graded through the
thickness in accordance with a power-law distribution. Hamiltonian principle is used to
extract the equations of dynamic equilibrium and natural boundary conditions of the
plate.

2 Theory and Formulation

2.1 Functionally Graded Plates

Consider a ceramic–metal FGM plate of length a, width b and thickness h resting on an
elastic foundation. A coordinate system (x, y, z) is established in which (x, y) plane on
the middle surface of the plate and z is thickness direction ðh=2  z  h=2Þ as
shown in Fig. 1.
36 A. Bakora et al.

Fig. 1. Geometry and coordinate system of an FGM plate.

Effective properties (modulus of elasticity E) of FGM plate are determined by linear

rule of mixture as


1 z p
E ðzÞ ¼ Em þ ðEc  Em Þ þ ð1Þ
2 h

Where P is volume fraction index ð0  p  1Þ and Poisson ratio m is assumed to

be constant. Subscripts m and c stand for the metal and ceramic constituents, respec-
tively. It is evident from Eq. (1), that the upper surface of the plate ðz ¼ h=2Þ is
ceramic-rich, while the lower surface ðz ¼ h=2Þ is metal-rich.

2.2 Kinematics and Strains

The present study uses higher order shear deformation plate theory to establish gov-
erning equations and determine the buckling loads and natural frequencies
Z
@w0
uðx; y; z; tÞ ¼ u0 ðx; y; tÞ  z þ k1 f ðzÞ hðx; y; tÞ dx
@x
Z
@w0 ð2Þ
vðx; y; z; tÞ ¼ v0 ðx; y; tÞ  z þ k2 f ðzÞ hðx; y; tÞdy
@y
wðx; y; z; tÞ ¼ w0 ðx; y; tÞ


5 4z3
f ðzÞ ¼ z 2
4 3h

Where u0 ; v0 ; w0 ; h are four unknown displacements of the midplane of the plate,

f ðzÞ denotes shape function representing the variation of the transverse shear strains
and stresses within the thickness. The constants k1 and k2 depends on the geometry.
 A New Four Variable Refined Shear Deformation Theory 37

The nonzero strains associated with the displacement field in Eq. (2) are
8 9 8 09 8 b9 8 s9
< e x = < e x = < kx = < kx =
ey ¼ e0y þ z kyb þ f ðzÞ kys ; ð3aÞ
:c ; : 0 ; : b ; : ks ;
xy cxy kxy xy

   
cyz c0yz df ðzÞ
¼ gðzÞ 0 ; gðzÞ ¼ ð3bÞ
cxz cxz dz

8 0 9 8 @u0 9 8 b 9 8 @ 2 w0 9
> > >> >
> > >  @x2 >
< ex = < @x = < kx > = > < >
=
@v
 @@yw20 ;
0 b 2
ey ¼ @x
0
; ky ¼
: 0 >
> ; >> >
> : b >
> ; > > >
>
: @u @v ; : w0 ;
@y þ @x 2 @@x@y
cxy 0 0 kxy 2

8 s9 8 9
> ( ) ( )
< kx >= >< k1 h >
= c0yz k2 B
0
@h
@y
kys
¼ k2 h ; ¼ ;
: ks >
> ; >: ðk A þ k B Þ >
@2 h ; c0xz k1 A
0
@h
1 2 @x
xy @x@y

For elastic and isotropic FGMs, the constitutive relations can be expressed as
8 9 2 38 9
>
> rx >> C11 C12 0 0 0 > > ex >>
>
> > 6 > >
< ry >= 6 C12 C22 0 0 0 7< ey >
7> =
sxy ¼ 6
6 0 0 C66 0 0 77> cxy > ð4Þ
>
> >
>
> yz >
> s 4 0 0 0 C44 0 5>> c > >
: > ; : yz >
> ;
sxz 0 0 0 0 C55 cxz

E ðzÞ m E ðzÞ E ðzÞ

C11 ¼ C22 ¼ ; C12 ¼ ; C44 ¼ C55 ¼ C66 ¼ ;
1m 2 1m 2 2ð 1 þ m Þ
   
Where rx ; ry ; sxy ; syz ; sxz and ex ; ey ; cxy ; cyz ; cxz are the stress and strain
components.

2.3 Equation of Motion

Hamilton’s principle is herein utilized to determine the equations of motion

Zt
0¼ ðdU þ dV  dK Þ dt ð5Þ
0

Where dU is the variation of strain energy; dV is the variation of the external work
done by external load applied to the plate; and dK is the variation of kinetic energy
which their expressions can be found on Hebali et al. (2016).
38 A. Bakora et al.

The following equations of motion are obtained:

@Nx @Nxy @w€0 €

@h
du0 : þ ¼ I0 €u0  I1 þ k1 A0 J1 ð6aÞ
@x @y @x @x

@Nxy @Ny @w€0 @€

h
dv0 : þ ¼ I0€v0  I1 þ k2 B0 J1 ð6bÞ
@x @y @y @y

@ 2 Mxb @ 2 Mxy
b
@ 2 Myb 0 @ w0
2
0 @ w0
2
dw0 : þ 2 þ þ N þ 2N
@x2 @x@y @y2 x
@x2 xy
@x@y


@ 2
w0 @€
u 0 @€
v 0
þ Ny0 € 0 þ I1
¼ I0 w þ €0
 I2 r2 w ð6cÞ
@y2 @x @y
!
2€
0 @ h @2€
h
þ J2 k1 A 2 þ k2 B0 2
@x @y

@ 2 Mxys
@Ss
d h : k1 Mxs  k2 Mys  ðk1 A þ k2 BÞ þ k1 A0 xz
@x@y @x


@S s
@€ u @€
v
þ k2 B0 ¼ J1 k1 A0 þ k2 B 0
yz 0 0
@y @x @y ð6dÞ
!

2€ 2€
0 2 @ h 0 2 @ h 0@ w
2
€0 0@ w
2
€0
 K2 ðk1 A Þ 2 þ ðk2 B Þ 2 þ J2 k1 A þ k2 B
@x @y @x2 @y2

Where dot-overscript convention indicates the differentiation with respect to the

time variable t. The stress resultants Ni , Mi , Qi and the inertias Ii ; ji ; Ki ði ¼ 1; 2; 3Þ are
defined by

Zh=2  Zh=2
   
Ni ; Mib ; Mis ¼ ð1; z; f Þ ri dz; ði ¼ x; y; xyÞ and Sxz ; Syz ¼
s s
g sxz ; syz dz
h=2 h=2

Zh=2
 
ðI0 ; I1 ; I2 Þ ¼ 1; z; z2 qðzÞdz
h=2

Zh=2
 
ðJ1 ; J2 ; K2 Þ ¼ f ; z f ; f 2 qðzÞdz
h=2

Nx ; Ny ; Nxy are transverse and in-plane applied loads.

The equations of motion can be expressed in terms of displacements ðu0 ; v0 ; w0 ; hÞ
and the appropriate equations take the form Hebali et al. (2016).
 A New Four Variable Refined Shear Deformation Theory 39

2.4 Analytical Solution for Simply-Supported FG Plates

The Navier solution method is employed to determine the analytical solutions for which
the displacement variables are written as product of arbitrary parameters and known
trigonometric functions to respect the equations of motion and boundary conditions
8 9 8 9
>
> u0 > > Umn eixt cosðaxÞ sinðbyÞ >
< > = X 1 >
1 X < >
=
v0 Vmn eixt sinðaxÞ cosðbyÞ
¼ ð7Þ
> >
> w0 > > Wmn eixt sinðaxÞ sinðbyÞ >
: ; m¼1 n¼1 >: >
;
h Xmn eixt sinðaxÞ sinðbyÞ
pffi
Where x is the frequency of free vibration of the plate, i ¼ 1 the imaginary
unit. With

a ¼ mp=a; b ¼ np=b

Considering that the plate is subjected to in-plane compressive loads of form: (here
c1 and c2 are non-dimensional load parameters).

Nx0 ¼ c1 Ncr ; Ny0 ¼ c2 Ncr ; Nxy

0
¼ 0 ð8Þ

Substituting Eq. (7) into Eq. (6a), (6b), (6c) and (6d) the following problem is
obtained
02 3 2 3 18 9 8 9
S11 S12 S13 S14 m11 0 m13 m14 >
> > >
Umn > >0>>
B6 S12 S22 S23 S24 7 6 m24 7 C< Vmn = < 0 =
B6 7  x2 6 0 m22 m23 7C ¼
@4 S13 S23 S33 þ N S34 5 4 m13 m23 m33 m34 5A> W > > 0>
: mn >
> ; > : >;
S14 S24 S34 S44 m14 m24 m34 m44 Xmn 0
ð9Þ
 
Where the expressions of Sij ; mij ; N; i ¼ j ¼ 1; 2; 3; 4 are found on Hebali et al.
(2016).

3 Numerical Examples and Discussions

In this section, various numerical examples are presented and discussed to check the
accuracy of present HSDT in investigating the bending, buckling, and vibration
behaviors of simply supported FG plates. For proposed examples, an Al/Al2O3 plate
fabricated of aluminum (as metal) and alumina (as ceramic) is examined. The Young’s
modulus and density of aluminum are Em ¼ 70 GPa and qm ¼ 2702 kg/m3, respec-
tively, and those of alumina are Ec ¼ 380 GPa and qc ¼ 3800 kg/m3 respectively.
40 A. Bakora et al.

For validation purpose, the computed quantities are compared with those reported
utilizing various existing plate models. For convenience, the following dimensionless
quantities are employed in illustrating the numerical results in graphical and tabular form

Eh3 Ncr b2 Ncr a2

D¼ N ¼ N ¼
12ð1  m2 Þ p2 D Em h3
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi a 2 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
x ¼ xh qc =Ec x ¼ x qc =Ec
h

The computed data are compared with those calculated by and Hosseini-Hashemi
et al. (2011a) based on FSDT and Hosseini-Hashemi et al. (2011b) based on TSDT. It
is concluded from (Table 1) that there is an excellent agreement between the results
determined by present model, FSDT (Hosseini-Hashemi et al. 2011a), and TSDT
(Hosseini-Hashemi et al. 2011b). From this investigation can be observed that the
resulting curves (Fig. 2) are very close to the curves plotted by employing a TSDT
(Reddy 2000) and the CPT overestimates the results of thick plate. Thus, in general, the
present model is successfully validated.

Table 1. Comparison of nondimensional fundamental frequency x of square plate.

a/h Method Power law index ðPÞ
0 0.5 1 4 10
5 FSDTa 0.2112 0.1805 0.1631 0.1397 0.1324
HSDTb 0.2113 0.1807 0.1631 0.1378 0.1301
Present 0.2113 0.1807 0.1631 0.1378 0.1301
10 FSDTa 0.0577 0.0490 0.0442 0.0382 0.0366
HSDTb 0.0577 0.0490 0.0442 0.0381 0.0364
Present 0.0577 0.0490 0.0442 0.0381 0.0364
20 FSDTa 0.0148 0.0125 0.0113 0.0098 0.0094
HSDTb 0.0148 0.0125 0.0113 0.0098 0.0094
Present 0.0148 0.0125 0.0113 0.0098 0.0094
a
Taken from Hosseini-Hashemi (2011a)
b
Taken from Hosseini-Hashemi (2011b)

Table 2 presents the values of the non-dimensional buckling loads N of isotropic

plate ðP ¼ 0Þ under various loading cases for various values of aspect ratio a=b and
thickness ratio h=b. The computed values are compared with the results reported by
Shufrin and Eisenberger (2005) based on FSDT and TSDT. An excellent agreement is
proved for all types ranging from moderately thick to very thick plates. It is demon-
strated that the present novel four variable refined plate theory and TSDT predict
almost the same values, and CPT over-estimates the buckling loads of plate due to
neglecting transverse shear deformation influences. The difference between CPT and
shear deformation models diminishes when the side-to-thickness ratio a/h increases
(Fig. 3).
 A New Four Variable Refined Shear Deformation Theory 41

Table 2. Comparison of nondimensional critical buckling load N of isotropic plate under

different loading types P ¼ 0
h/b Method Loading type ðc1 ; c2 Þ
(1, 0) (0, 1) (1, 1)
0.1 FSDTa 3.7865 3.7865 1.8932
TSDTa 3.7866 3.7865 1.8933
Present 3.7866 3.7865 1.8933
0.2 FSDTa 3.2638 3.2637 1.6319
TSDTa 3.2653 3.2653 1.6327
Present 3.2653 3.2653 1.6327
0.3 FSDTa 2.6533 2.6533 1.3266
TSDTa 2.6586 2.6586 1.3293
Present 2.6586 2.6586 1.3293
0.4 FSDTa 1.9196 1.9196 1.0513
TSDTa 1.9550 1.9550 1.0567
Present 1.9550a 1.9550a 1.0567
a
Taken from Shufrin and Eisenberger
(2005)

Fig. 2. Comparison of the variation of nondimensional fundamental frequency x of square plate

versus thickness ratio a/h.
42 A. Bakora et al.

Fig. 3. Comparison of the variation of nondimensional critical buckling load N of square plate
under biaxial compression versus power law index P ða ¼ 5 hÞ.

4 Conclusions

A novel higher-order shear deformation theory is developed for buckling, and vibration
of FG plates. By considering further simplifying suppositions to the existing HSDT,
with the incorporation of an undetermined integral term, the number of variables and
equations of motion of the present HSDT are diminished by one, and hence, make this
model simple and efficient to employ. The equations of motion are determined by
utilizing the Hamilton’s principle and then are solved using Navier’s procedure. The
exactitude of the developed model has been checked for the buckling, and free
vibration responses of FG plates. All comparison investigations demonstrate that the
buckling load, and natural frequency determined by the developed model with four
variables are almost close to those obtained by other shear deformation theories con-
taining five variables. In conclusion, it can be deduced from this work that the
developed theory is accurate and efficient in investigating the buckling, and vibration
behaviors of FG plates.

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