Vibration characteristics of functionally graded material plate with various boundary constraints using higher order shear deformation theory

This paper deals with the vibration characteristics of shear deformable functionally graded material (FGM) plates. The theoretical models are based on Taylor's series expansion of in-plane and transverse displacements in thickness coordinate defining the plate deformations. Poisson's ratio of the FGM plates are assumed to be constant, whereas the effective mechanical properties i.e. Young's moduli and material densities vary continuously in thickness coordinate according to the volume fraction of constituents. A C0 continuous isoparametric finite element formulation has been employed to accomplish the results, and the accuracy of the formulation is demonstrated by comparing with the available literature. Parametric study has been performed for volume fraction indices, thickness ratios, aspect ratio and various boundary constraints. Natural frequencies of the FGM plates with various unconventional boundary constraints have also been presented.