A refined trigonometric shear deformation theory for thermoelastic bending of functionally graded sandwich plates

A refined trigonometric shear deformation theory (RTSDT) taking into account transverse shear deformation effects is presented for the thermoelastic bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in case of other shear deformation theories. The theory presented is variationally consistent, does not require shear correction factor, the displacement components are expressed by trigonometric series representation through the plate thickness to develop a two-dimensional theory and gives rise to transverse shear stress variation such that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness satisfying shear stress free surface conditions. The sandwich with homogeneous facesheet and FGM core is considered. Material properties of the present FGM core are assumed to vary according to a power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The influences played by the transverse shear deformation, thermal load, plate aspect ratio, and volume fraction distribution are studied. Numerical results for deflections and stresses of functionally graded metal–ceramic plates are investigated. It can be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and simple in solving the thermoelastic bending behavior of functionally graded plates.