Limit load analysis and imperfection sensitivity of heated or compressed FGM beams on nonlinear softening elastic foundation

Abstract

Analysis of nonlinear response of thick FGM beams subjected to either thermal or mechanical load is performed. Beam is in contact with a three-parameter elastic foundation. Nonlinear component of the foundation may be of the hardening or softening type. Equilibrium equations of the clamped beam are obtained within the framework of von Karman assumptions and third-order shear deformation theory and solved using the two-step perturbation technique. It is shown that when the FGM beam is in contact with a sufficiently soft foundation, the post-buckling path of the heated/compressed FGM beam is unstable and therefore, the structure is imperfection sensitive. Communicated by Chandrika Prakash Vyasarayani