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Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757

1st International Conference on Structural Integrity, ICONS-2014

Buckling Analysis of Rectangular Functionally Graded Material

Plates under Uniaxial and Biaxial Compression Load
I Ramu* and S.C. Mohanty
Department of Mechanical Engineering,National Institute of Technology, Rourkela-769008, Odisha, India
*
E-mail ID:ram.journals@gmail.com,

Abstract

This article deals with the buckling analysis of rectangular functionally graded material (FGM) plates using classical plate theory
(CPT). Finite element method has been applied for the modelling and buckling analysis of FGM plate. Uniaxial and biaxial
compression loads along with simply supported boundary conditions on rectangular FGM plates are investigated. Convergence of
the solution obtained by MATLAB has also been studied by varying the mesh size. Obtained results are compared with the
existing literature, it shows that the buckling characteristics are closer to the reference results. By varying the geometric
parameter a/b critical buckling load variation has been calculated and Power law index is also been evaluated.
2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
Peer-review under responsibility of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
Keywords: FGM plates,FEM, CPT andbuckling analysis.

1. Introduction

The buckling behaviour of rectangular FGM plates subjected to compressive loads has attracted the
attention of many researchers working on structural analysis and design. The Functionally graded material can be
represented as a non-homogenous material which its mechanical properties vary continuously along the thickness
direction from top one surface to the bottom surface. This is achieved by varying the volume fraction of the
constituents. Here, it is assumed that the FGM plate is made of ceramic and metal. The ceramic constituent provides
high temperature resistance due to its low thermal conductivity. The metal part on the other hand, prevents fracture
due to its greater toughness. These are high-performance, heat-resistant materials able to withstand high
temperatures and extremely large gradients used in spacecrafts and nuclear plants. FGM are typically designed for a
specific function or application. Most of the times they are manufactured to achieve good strength to weight ratios
and good thermal or electrical conductivity.

1877-7058 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.11.094
 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757 749

Hosseini-Hashemi et al. [2008] has studied an exact solution for the buckling of isotropic rectangular
Mindlin plates. They considered a combination of six different boundary conditions in which two opposite edges are
simply supported. Monoaxial in-plane compressive loads on both directions were considered as well as equal biaxial
compressive loads. They presented the non-dimensional critical buckling loads and mode shapes for the six cases
analyzed. C.A. Featherston, A. Watson [2005] investigated the behaviour of a number of optimised fibre composite
plates of differing geometry, simply supported along two edges and built in along the other two. In their analysis to a
varying combination of shear and in-plane bending, for which no theoretical solution exists, and assesses the
suitability of analytical techniques and finite element analysis to predict this behaviour. V. Piscopo [2010]
investigated the Shimpi theory for buckling analysis of thick rectangular plates and taking into account the shear
deformations. The finite element method has long been recognized as one of the most effective
numerical method for analyzing the buckling load of thin plate like structures under arbitrary loading and
boundary conditions. Chee-Kiong Chin et al. [1993] presented a finite element method using thin-plate elements.
This method was capable of predicting the buckling capacity of arbitrarily shaped thin-walled structural members
under any general load and boundary conditions. Several researchers have studied buckling of composite plates by,
Arthur W. Leissa [1986] purposed to clarify the under what conditions bifurcation buckling loads can exist for
generally unsymmetrically laminated plates for arbitrary ply orientation, as well as for the important, special
cases of antisymmetric angle-ply and cross-ply laminates. Mahdi Damghani et al. [2011] has studied the critical
buckling of composite plates with through the length delaminations by using exact stiffness analysis and the
WittrickWilliams algorithm. MeisamMohammadi, et al. [2010] obtained an exact solution for the buckling analysis
of thin functionally graded rectangular plates. Their work based on the classical plate theory and using the principle
of minimum total potential energy, the equilibrium equations are obtained.

In the present study, the buckling analysis of thin rectangular FGM plates is studied. Based on the classical
plate theory and using the principle of minimum total potential energy, the equilibrium equations are obtained. The
resulting equations are solved for different loading conditions. Finally, the critical buckling loads for a FGM plate
with simply supported boundary conditions and different loading conditions, some aspect ratios and various power
law index of FGM, are shown.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Functionally Graded Materials (FGM)

Consider a case when FGM plate made up of a mixture of ceramic and metal as show in Fig. 1. A
rectangular FGM plate of length a, width b, and thickness h, referred to the rectangular Cartesian coordinates (x, y,
z). We assume that the effective material properties Pof the plate linearly vary with respect to the thickness
coordinate as follow Ref. [8]

P( z ) = PmVm + PV
c c
1

Fig. 1 Geometry of the FGM plate

where P(z) denotes a material property of FGM plate which maybe substituted by modulus of elasticity E, the
coefficient of thermal expansion , the conductivity K, Poissons ratio and thesubscripts m and c refer to the metal
and ceramic constituents, respectively.

For power-law FGM, ceramic volume fraction function is expressed as:

750 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757

n
2z + h
Vc = 2
2h

2.2 Physical Neutral Surface of the FGM Plate

For plate made of FGM, the neutral surface may not coincide with its geometric mid-surface. The distance
of the neutral surface (d) from the geometric mid-surface may be expressed as

h/ 2

zE ( z )dz
3
d= h / 2
h/2

h / 2
E ( z )dz

2.3 Governing Equations

Let us refer to the coordinate system of Fig.2 with z axis having the origin on the plate middle plane. The
basic assumptions of the classical plate theory are:

1. The displacements of the plate are small in comparison to the plates thickness and the strains and mid-surface
slopes are much less than unity.
2. The stress z is negligible respect to the in-plane stresses x and y .
3. The transverse shear stresses xz and yz are small in comparison with the in-plane components x , y and xy
. In other words, normals remain normal.

Fig. 2 Rectangular plate reference system

Then the displacement field in the (x, y, z) reference system has the following form
w( x, y )
U = u ( x, y ) z
x
w( x, y ) 4
V = v ( x, y ) z
y
W = w( x, y )
Where u, v are in-plane displacements at a point of the mid-plane and U, V and W are displacement components of a
typical point in the plate.
The strain-displacement relationship are given as
 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757 751

U
x
5
x V
y
y
U V
xy = +
y x
yz V W
xz +
z y
U W
+
z x
By substituting Eq. (4) into Eq. (5), the strain can be expressed as
u 2w
x = z 2
x x
v 2w
y = z 2 6
y y
u v 2w
xy = + 2z
y x xy
yz =0
xz = 0
x and y are the normal strains and xy is shear strain at the middle surface of the plate.
The curvatures are shown by k x = w, xx , k y = w, yy , k xy = 2 w, xy .
The stress-strain relationships of the functionally graded plate in the global x-y-z coordinates system can be written
as
xx Q11 Q12 0 x

yy = Q21 Q22 0 y
7
0
0 Q66 xy
xy
where x and y are the normal stresses and xy is shear stress of the plate.
E ( z) E ( z)
Q11 = , Q12 = Q21 = ,
1 2
1 2
E (z)
Q66 =
2 (1 + )

x =
E
1 2
( x + y )
y =
E
1 2
( y + x )
E
xy = xy
2 (1 + )
The constitutive relations are written as
Nx =
E1
1 2
( x + y ) + 1 E2 2 ( kx + k y )
8
N y = 1 2 ( y + x ) + 2 2 ( k y + k x )
E E
1 1
E1 E2
N xy = xy + k
2 (1 + ) (1 + ) xy
752 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757

Mx =
E2
1 2
( x + y ) + 1 E3 2 ( kx + k y )
9
My =
E2
1 2
( y + x ) + 1 E3 2 ( k y + kx )
E2 E3
M xy = xy + k
2 (1 + ) (1 + ) xy
where

E1 = Em h +
( Ec Em ) h , E 1
= ( Ec Em ) h 2 +
1

n +1 n + 2 2n + 2
2

Em h 3
h3 1 1 1
E3 = + ( Ec Em ) +
12 12 n + 3 n + 2 4 ( n + 1)
In the above equations, Ni and Mi are force and moment resultants, respectively.
The equilibrium equations of a perfect FGM plate are
N x , xx + 2 N xy , xy + N y , yy = 0
M x , xx + 2 M xy , xy + M y , yy = 0 10

q + N x w, xx + N y w, yy + 2 N xy w, xy = 0
Using Equations 8 and 9, the equilibrium in Equation (10) may be reduced to one equation as
D4 w N x w, xx 2 N xy w, xy N y w, yy q = 0 11
where
E1E3 E2 2
D=
(
E1 1 2 )
To establish the stability equations, the critical equilibrium method is used.

3. Finite Element Formulations

A four node rectangular element is used for this analysis. Each node of the element has three degrees of
freedom, one transverse displacement and two rotations about x and y axis respectively shows in fig.3. Hence, the
displacement function of the rectangular element can be approximated by

12
w = 1 x y x2 xy y2 x3 x2 y xy 2 y3 x3 y xy 3 { } 13
14

15

16
Substituting (15) and (16) becomes

17
26
 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757 753

Fig.3 Geometry of the four node rectangular element

Shape function



18

In deriving this result, it is simpler to use the expression Eq. (18) for substitute w after performing the integration. A
typical integral is then the element stiffness matrix and geometric stiffness matrices are derived on the basis of
principle of minimum potential energy and work done.

The element stiffness matrix is derived as

{ }
1 (e)
{ }
T
U( ) = K s ( e) q( e)
e
q
2

[ ks ] = BT DBdV
e
19

2
2
where x
2 Eh3
[ B] = 2 [ S ] , D =
y 12(1 v2 )
2
2
xy

The element geometric stiffness matrix

S 2 S
2
S S
k g = N x + N y + 2 N xy dA
e
20
x y x y

The overall stiffness and geometric stiffness matrices, Ks and Kg, for a plate structure can be obtained by a
standard assembly procedure used in the finite element method after each element stiffness matrix and
geometric stiffness matrix has been transformed into global coordinatesystem.

Buckling conditions for a structure are obtained when the second variation of the total potential energy vanishes, i.e.
det ( K s + K g ) = 0 21
In which is the buckling load.
754 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757

4. Results and Discussions

4.1 Validation of the Results

In order to validate the accuracy of the present formulations, a comparison has been carried out with the
results obtained by Ref. [7], for all edges SSSS and SCSC isotropic plates. The critical buckling load has been listed
in Table 2 for a rectangular simply supported plate subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compression and side-thickness
ratios. As this table shows, the present results have a good agreement with those reported in Ref. [7].

Table 1
Non-dimensional critical buckling load convergence study of an square plate with t=0.01m

Number of elements Uniaxial compression Biaxial compression

10X10 39.0651 19.5325

15X15 39.2926 19.6463
20X20 39.3734 19.6867
25X25 39.4111 19.7056
30X30 39.428 19.7081
Ref [7] 39.4784 19.7392

Table 2
2
Comparison of the non-dimensional critical buckling load ( Pcr L / D ) for an isotropic plate

Boundary a/b ratio Uniaxial compression Biaxial compression

conditions Ref.[7] Present study Ref.[7] Present study
SSSS 0.5 15.4212 15.392 12.3370 12.313
1 39.4784 39.428 19.7392 19.708
SCSC 0.5 18.9775 18.948 14.6174 14.592
1 75.9099 75.675 37.7996 37.704

4.2 Results

After verifying the accuracy of the present solution, in order to obtain the following new results, it is
assumed that the FGM plate is made of a mixture of silicon nitride and stainless steel. Figure 4 illustrates the simply
supported rectangular plate subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compression loading. To carry out the numerical
simulation, following material properties have been considered.

SUS304, , ,
 ,  , ,

Fig.4 Rectangular plate subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compression load

 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757 755

4.2.1Rectangular FGM Plates Under Uniaxial and Biaxial Compression

In table 3 shows the critical buckling loads for different values of the ratio t/b of rectangular FGM plate
under uniaxial compression. The convergence of the solution obtained by FEM has been studied and in all cases it
was quite quickly achieved. From the analysis it is clear that there is a very good accordance with the proposed
analysis. From the obtained results, it seems clear that the FEM buckling analysis results deceases, when the ratio
t/b increases, as it would be predictable. Anyway, it is fundamental to note that these obtained results lower if
referred to the critical value, the most important parameter in a buckling analysis. In tables 3 and 4 shown for FGM
plates under uniaxial and biaxial compression with n= 0, 1, 2, 5 for different values of the ratio t/b.In figs.5 and 6
shown that the critical buckling load parameter variation with respective index value with different thickness values
(t=0.01, 0.02 and 0.03) and aspect ratios (a/b=0.25, 1). The FGM plate is subjected to biaxial compression load, the
increases index value effects the critical buckling load parameter is shown in fig. 6.Similarly the critical buckling
load variation with different aspect ratios (a/b=0.25, 1) shown in figs. 6 (a) and (b).

Table 3
The critical buckling load (MN/m) of FGM rectangular plates

Aspect ratio Power law index n Uniaxial compression

0.01m 0.02m 0.03m
a=0.25m,b=1m 0 5.0576 40.461 136.56
1 4.3156 34.525 116.52
2 4.047 32.376 109.27
5 3.7379 29.903 100.92
a=1m, b=1m 0 1.1222 8.9104 30.072
1 0.95022 7.6018 25.656
2 0.89103 7.1283 24.058
5 0.82293 6.5834 22.219
a=4m, b=1m 0 1.0828 8.6622 29.235
1 0.92289 7.3831 24.918
2 0.86513 6.921 23.358
5 0.79875 6.39 21.566

Table 4
The critical buckling load (MN/m) of a FGM rectangular plate

Aspect ratio Power law index n Biaxial compression

0.01m 0.02m 0.03m
a=0.25m,b=1m 0 4.7601 38.081 128.52
1 3.9373 31.499 106.31
2 3.7899 30.319 102.33
5 3.6517 29.214 98.597
a=1m, b=1m 0 0.55692 4.4552 15.036
1 0.44605 3.6845 12.435
2 0.44329 3.5463 11.969
5 0.42712 3.4168 11.532
a=4m, b=1m 0 0.29751 2.3801 8.0327
1 0.24608 1.9687 6.6443
2 0.26872 1.8950 6.3955
5 0.22823 1.8259 6.1623
756 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757

 
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 P P

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&ULWLFDOEXFNOLQJORDG




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 P


P 

P

 
                     
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Fig. 5 Critical buckling load of FGM plate verses power law index n with aspect ratio a/b=0.25, 1 under uniaxial
compression case.

DE 




&ULWLFDOEXFNOLQJORDG

P




 P


P


          
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(a)

DE 



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Fig. 6 Critical buckling load of FGM plate verses power law index n with aspect ratio
(a) a/b=0.25, and (b) a/b= 1 under biaxial compression case.
 I. Ramu and S.C. Mohanty / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 748 757 757

5. Conclusions

The buckling behaviour of rectangular FGM plates under compression is investigated using the finite
element method. The compression loadings are assumed to be uniaxial compression and biaxial compression. The
effective material properties are computed using the simple power law equation of the volume fraction of the plate
constituents. The critical buckling load of the rectangular plate under uniaxial compression is greater than the biaxial
compression. From tables 3 and 4 results show that as the aspect ratio a/b (0.25, 1 and 4) increases, the critical
buckling load reduces. And the variation of thickness (0.01, 0.02 and 0.03) for each aspect ratios are also shown in
tables 3 and 4. The critical buckling load increases by increasing the thickness. In figs. 6 (a) and (b) it is shown that
the critical buckling load decreases as the volume fraction index n increase. This is because as volume fraction index
increases, the contained quantity of ceramic decreases.

References

1. Chee-Kiong Chin, Faris G. A. AI-Bermani, and SritawatKitipornchai [1993], Finite Element Method for
Buckling Analysis of Plate Structures, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol.119, No. 4.
2. V. Piscopo [2010], Refined Buckling Analysis of Rectangular Plates under Uniaxial and Biaxial
Compression, World Academy of Science, engineering and Technology 46, p. 554-561.
3. Hosseini-Hashemi S, Khorshidi K, Amabili M [2008], Exact solution for linear buckling of rectangular
Mindlin plates, Journal of Sound and Vibrations. 315, 318342 (2008).
4. Arthur W. Leissa [1986], Conditions for Laminated Plates to Remain Flat Under Inplane Loading,
Composite Structures 6, 261-270.
5. Mahdi Damghani, David Kennedy, Carol Featherston [2011], Critical buckling of delaminated composite
plates using exact stiffness analysis, Computers and Structures 89 (2011) 12861294
6. C.A. Featherston, A. Watson [], Buckling of optimised flat composite plates under shear and in-plane
bending, Composites Science and Technology 65 (2005) 839853
7. MeisamMohammadi, Ali Reza Saidi, EmadJomehzadeh [2010], Levy Solution for Buckling Analysis of
Functionally Graded Rectangular Plates, Appl Compos Mater (2010) 17:8193
8. Shyang-HoChi,Yen-Ling Chung [2006],Mechanical behavior of functionally graded materialplates under
transverse loadPart I: Analysis, International Journal of Solids and Structures 43 (2006) 36573674.