Analytical solution of nonlinear cylindrical bending for functionally graded plates

This article considers the problems of cylindrical bending of functionally graded plates in which material properties vary through the thickness. The variation of the material properties follows two power-law distributions in terms of the volume fractions of constituents. In addition, this paper considers orthotropic materials rather than isotropic materials. The traction-free condition on the top surface is replaced with the condition of uniform load applied on the top surface. Numerical results are presented to show the effect of the material distribution on the deflections and stresses. Results show that, all other parameters remaining the same, the studied quantities (stress, deflection) of P-FGM and E-FGM plates are always proportional to those of homogeneous isotropic plates. Therefore, one can predict the behaviour of P-FGM and E-FGM plates knowing that of similar homogeneous plates.