Size-dependent nonlinear pull-in instability of a bi-directional functionally graded microbeam

Two-directional functionally graded materials (2D-FGMs) show extraordinary physical properties which makes them ideal candidates for designing smart micro-switches. Pull-in instability is one of the most critical challenges in the design of electrostatically-actuated microswitches. The present research aims to bridge the gap in the static pull-in instability analysis of microswitches composed of 2D-FGM. Euler-Bernoulli beam theory with geometrical nonlinearity effect (i.e. von-Karman nonlinearity) in conjunction with the modified couple stress theory (MCST) are employed for mathematical formulation. The micro-switch is subjected to electrostatic actuation with fringing field effect and Casimir force. Hamilton's principle is utilized to derive the governing equations of the system and corresponding boundary conditions. Due to the extreme nonlinear coupling of the governing equations and boundary conditions as well as the existence of terms with variable coefficients, it was difficult to solve the obtained equations analytically. Therefore, differential quadrature method (DQM) is hired to discretize the obtained nonlinear coupled equations and non-classical boundary conditions. The result is a system of nonlinear coupled algebraic equations, which are solved via Newton-Raphson method. A parametric study is then implemented for clamped-clamped and cantilever switches to explore the static pull-in response of the system. The influences of the FG indexes in two directions, length scale parameter, and initial gap are discussed in detail.