A New Numerical Solution of 3D Nonlinear Thermo-Mechanical Bending Analysis of Functionally Graded Annular Thick Plate Under Asymmetric Boundary Conditions and Non-Uniform Local Loading

Abstract

In this study, the numerical solution of the nonlinear thermo-mechanical bending analysis of functionally graded (FG) annular thick plates, based on 3D elasticity theory and resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations, is presented under mechanical, thermal, and thermo-mechanical loading using the semi-analytical polynomial method (SAPM). This study represents the first report of bending analysis of plates under asymmetric boundary conditions and non-uniform local loading. The bending of an FG annular thick plate subjected to general or local, uniform or non-uniform loadings for different symmetric and asymmetric boundary conditions—clamped, simply supported, and free edges—is studied. Considering the fact that no study has been conducted on 3D asymmetric bending analysis, the influences of different positions, areas, intensities, and functions of uniform and non-uniform, general and local loading under symmetric and asymmetric boundary conditions on deflection and thickness variations are investigated and the results are compared with those obtained from ABAQUS software. The most significant result in the case of local loading is one that in some cases, the plate may experience higher deflection than when the general loading is covered all area of the plate