Three-dimensional thermomechanical buckling analysis for functionally graded composite plates

Three-dimensional thermomechanical buckling analysis is investigated for functionally graded composite structures that composed of ceramic, functionally graded material (FGM), and metal layers. Material properties are assumed to be temperature dependent, and in FGM layer, they are varied continuously in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the ceramic and metal volume fractions. The finite element model is adopted by using an 18-node solid element to analyze more accurately the variation of material properties and temperature field in the thickness direction. Temperature at each node is obtained by solving the thermomechanical equations. For a time discretization, Crank–Nicolson method is used. In numerical results, the thermal buckling behavior of FGM composite structures due to FGM thickness ratios, volume fraction distributions, and system geometric parameters are analyzed.