On functionally graded rectangular plates with linear variable thickness under different BCs using a meshless method

In this paper, distribution of the deflection of continuously varying thickness FG rectangular plates is presented by use of 3-D Elasticity theory and meshless radial point interpolation method when the top surface of the plate is horizontal and under uniform distributed load. Using this numerical method, the field variable is interpolated just using nodes scattered in the plate domain. As no relation between nodes exists, their number can be increased in any direction to get more accuracy. Plate is under different BCs. Shape functions in this method have Kroneker delta function property and essential BCs can be applied easily using elimination approach. The plate is isotropic at any point in the volume. Young’s modulus varies exponentially through thickness and Poisson’s ratio remains constant. It is assumed that thickness varies linearly in y direction. The effects of different gradient indexes and different boundary conditions on distributions of deflections are investigated. The results have been compared with results in available papers and the high accuracy of the method used in the present work is shown.