Mechanical and hygrothermal behaviour of functionally graded plates using a hyperbolic shear deformation theory

Using the hyperbolic shear deformation plate model and including plate-foundation interaction (Winkler and Pasternak model), an analytical method in order to determine the deflection and stress distributions in simply supported rectangular functionally graded plates (FGP) subjected to a sinusoidal load, a temperature and moisture fields. The present theory exactly satisfies stress boundary conditions on the top and the bottom of the plate. No transversal shear correction factors are needed because a correct representation of the transversal shearing strain is given. Materials properties of the plate (elastic, thermal and moisture expansion coefficients) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Numerical examples are presented and discussed for verifying the accuracy of the present theory in predicting the bending response of FGM plates under sinusoidal load and a temperature field as well as moisture concentration. The effects of material properties, temperature, moisture, plate aspect ratio, side-to-thickness ratio, ratio of elastic coefficients (ceramic-metal) and three distributions for both temperature and moisture on deflections and stresses are investigated.