A novel general higher-order shear deformation theory for static, vibration and thermal buckling analysis of the functionally graded plates

This paper proposes a new general framework of higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and solves the structural responses of the functionally graded (FG) plates using novel exponential shape functions for the Ritz method. Based on the fundamental equations of the elasticity theory, the displacement field is expanded in a unified form which can recover to many different shear deformation plate theories such as zeroth-order shear deformation plate theory, third-order shear deformation plate theory, various HSDTs and refined four-unknown HSDTs. The characteristic equations of motion are derived from Lagrange's equations. Ritz-type solutions are developed for bending, free vibration and thermal buckling analysis of the FG plates with various boundary conditions. Three types of temperature variation through the thickness are considered. Numerical results are compared with those from previous studies to verify the accuracy and validity of the present theory. In addition, a parametric study is also performed to investigate the effects of the material parameters, side-to-thickness ratio, temperature rise and boundary conditions on the structural responses of the FG plates.