Nonlinear bending and post-buckling of a functionally graded circular plate under mechanical and thermal loadings

Based on the classical nonlinear von Karman plate theory, axisymmetric large deflection bending of a functionally graded circular plate is investigated under mechanical, thermal and combined thermal–mechanical loadings, respectively, and axisymmetric thermal post-buckling behavior of a functionally graded circular plate is also investigated. The mechanical and thermal properties of functionally graded material (FGM) are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the plate, and obey a simple power law of the volume fraction of the constituents. Governing equations for the problem are derived, and then a shooting method is employed to numerically solve the equations. Effects of material constant n and boundary conditions on the temperature distribution, nonlinear bending, critical buckling temperature and thermal post-buckling behavior of the FGM plate are discussed in details.