A refined four-unknown plate theory for advanced plates resting on elastic foundations in hygrothermal environment

This article presents the bending analysis of advanced plates resting on elastic foundations. The influence of temperature and moisture on the bending response of such plates is investigated using a refined plate theory. This theory includes the effects of transverse shear strain as well as the transverse normal strain. The number of unknown functions involved in the present theory is only four as against six or more in case of other shear and normal deformation theories. The governing equations are derived based on the present theory, including the hygrothermal effects and elastic foundation parameters. The effects of Winkler’s and Pasternak’s foundation parameters, temperature, moisture concentration, transverse and normal shear deformations, plate aspect ratio, side-to-thickness ratio, as well as the volume fraction distribution on displacement and stresses are investigated.