Thermo-elastic analysis of axially functionally graded rotating thick cylindrical pressure vessels with variable thickness under mechanical loading

Using higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and multi-layer method (MLM), a semi-analytical solution has been performed for the purpose of thermo-elastic analysis of functionally graded (FG) rotating thick cylindrical pressure vessels with variable thickness subjected to the temperature gradient and internal non-uniform pressure. Three different profiles (convex, linear and concave) are considered for the vessel with variable thickness. The material properties, except the Poisson's ratio, are assumed to vary with the power law function in the axial direction of the vessel. The governing equations, which are a system of differential equations with variable coefficients, have been solved with MLM. The effects of higher-order approximations on the radial and axial displacements, von Mises stress, and shear stress have been studied. Finally, some numerical results are presented to study the effects of mechanical and thermal loading, thickness profile type, and gradient index on the mechanical behavior of the cylindrical pressure vessel.