A novel refined plate theory for stability analysis of hybrid and symmetric S-FGM plates

In this paper, buckling analysis of hybrid functionally graded plates using a novel four variable refined plate theory is presented. In this theory the distribution of transverse shear deformation is parabolic across the thickness of the plate by satisfying the surface conditions. Therefore, it is unnecessary to use a shear correction factor. The variations of properties of the plate through the thickness are according to a symmetric sigmoid law (symmetric S-FGM). The principle virtual works is used herein to extract equilibrium equations. The analytical solution is determined using the Navier method for a simply supported rectangular plate subjected to axial forces. The precision of this theory is verified by comparing it with the various solutions available in the literature.