A refined quasi-3D theory for the bending of functionally graded porous sandwich plates resting on elastic foundations

Abstract

An improved porosity distribution is introduced for the bending of a novel model of functionally graded (FG) sandwich plates via a refined quasi-3D shear and normal deformation theory. The sandwich plates are lying on Pasternak’s elastic foundation and exposed to sinusoidal mechanical loads. The shear and normal strains are both included, for that the shear correction factor is unnecessary. Depending on a specific function, the material properties of the sandwich plates vary continuously across the thickness direction. The equilibrium equations will be derived using the virtual work principle and solved using Navier’s method. The effects of the porosity parameter, inhomogeneity factor, elastic foundations parameters, length-to-thickness, and length-to-width ratios will be introduced. Comparison examples will be discussed to support the accuracy of the current theory. Further results will be introduced to provide benchmarks for comparison purposes.