Buckling and free vibration analysis of functionally graded cylindrical shells subjected to a temperature-specified boundary condition

Linear thermal buckling and free vibration analysis are presented for functionally graded cylindrical shells with clamped–clamped boundary condition based on temperature-dependent material properties. The material properties of functionally graded materials (FGM) shell are assumed to vary smoothly and continuously across the thickness. With high-temperature specified on the inner surface of the FGM shell and outer surface at ambient temperature, 1D heat conduction equation along the thickness of the shell is applied to determine the temperature distribution; thereby, the material properties based on temperature distribution are made available for thermal buckling and free vibration analysis. First-order shear deformation theory along with Fourier series expansion of the displacement variables in the circumferential direction are used to model the FGM shell. Numerical studies involved the understanding of the influence of the power-law index, r/h and l/r ratios on the critical buckling temperature. Free vibration studies of FGM shells under elevated temperature show that the fall in natural frequency is very drastic for the mode corresponding to the lowest natural frequency when compared to the lowest buckling temperature mode.