Analytic solutions for static bending and free vibration analysis of FG nanobeams in thermal environment

Abstract

Beam, plate, and shell structures manufactured from functionally graded materials (FGMs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in practice. The manufacture of these structures is not free from flaws, one of which is that the thickness distribution of the material does not change continuously. This is the first study to apply two distinct analytical solutions to examine the static and free vibration responses of imperfect FG nanobeams in terms of material distribution and temperature influence. The calculation formulas are based on the novel shear strain theory, which, despite being simple, accounts for both bending and shear strain, rendering the calculation procedure highly convenient. Either of the two precise solutions is computed using direct integrals and can be computed for various boundary conditions, which is not possible with Navier’s solutions. The results of the verification indicate that the approaches given in the article guarantee the needed precision. This study also analyzes the effect of several geometrical, material, nonlocal, and imperfection characteristics on the static bending and free oscillation response of imperfect FG nanobeams.