Nonlinear response of a shear deformable S-FGM shallow spherical shell with ceramic-metal-ceramic layers resting on an elastic foundation in a thermal environment

Abstract

This article presents an analytical approach to investigate the nonlinear stability of thick, functionally graded material (FGM) shallow spherical shells resting on elastic foundations, subjected to uniform external pressure and exposed to thermal environments. Material properties are assumed to be temperature dependent and graded in the thickness direction according to a Sigmoid power law distribution (S-FGM) in terms of the volume fractions of constituents. Using the first-order shear deformation theory and the Galerkin method, the effects of materials, geometry, elastic foundation parameters, and temperature on the nonlinear response of the thick S-FGM shells are analyzed and discussed in detail.

Keywords:

• Nonlinear response
• thick S-FGM shallow spherical shell with ceramic-metal-ceramic layers
• elastic foundation
• temperature effects

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the Grant in Mechanics “Nonlinear analysis on stability and dynamics of functionally graded shells with special shapes” (code QG.14.02) of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.