Thermal Divergence of Supersonic Functionally Graded Plates

Abstract

This paper presents the thermal divergence analysis of supersonic plates made of functionally graded materials. The governing equations are based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The effects of steady aerodynamic pressure loadings in conjunction with elevated temperature are evaluated. It is assumed that the plate is subjected to uniform and linear temperature distributions across the thickness. The material properties of the functionally graded plates are assumed to follow power law distribution in the thickness direction. The Galerkin method is employed to transform the resulting partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. The solutions for the complex eigenvalue problem are obtained through the standard eigenvalue algorithm. The variation of non-dimensional aerodynamic pressure and geometric parameters such as plate aspect ratio and relative thickness, as well as gradient index on critical temperature and divergence boundaries are examined for uniform and linear temperature distributions.

Keywords:

• Aerothermoelasticity
• Divergence
• Functionally graded plate
• Rectangular plate
• Uniform/linear temperature