Analytical solutions for single- and multi-span functionally graded plates in cylindrical bending

A recently developed plate theory using the concept of shape function of the transverse coordinate parameter is extended to determine the stress distribution in an orthotropic functionally graded plate subjected to cylindrical bending. The transfer matrix method is presented to derive the shape function. The equations governing the plate deformation are then solved analytically using the transfer matrix method for arbitrary boundary conditions. For a simply supported functionally graded plate, a comparison of the present solution with the exact elasticity solution, the first- and third-order shear deformation plate theories is presented and discussed. It is demonstrated that the present method yields more accurate stresses than the first- and third-order shear deformation theories. The effect of boundary conditions and inhomogeneity of material on the displacements and stresses in functionally graded plates are investigated. A multi-span functionally graded plate with arbitrary boundary conditions is further considered to demonstrate the efficiency of the present method.