Three-dimensional analysis of a thick FGM rectangular plate in thermal environment.

The thermal behavior of a thick transversely isotropic FGM rectangular plate was investigated within the scope of three-dimensional elasticity. Noticing many FGMs may have temperature-dependent properties, the material constants were further considered as functions of temperature. A solution method based on state-space formulations with a laminate approximate model was proposed. For a thin plate, the method was clarified by comparison with the thin plate theory. The influences of material inhomogeneity and temperature-dependent characteristics were finally discussed through numerical examples.