Dynamic Analysis of Simply Supported Functionally Graded Plates

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are considered as a special composite material that is synthesized for a specific purpose by gradual mixing of two or more different materials thus with varying material properties through their thickness. Due to smooth and continuous varying material properties from one face to another, FGMs are usually superior to the conventional composite materials in mechanical behavior. Hence the dynamic analysis of FGM plates is essential. In this paper, numerical solutions for free vibration analysis of moderately thick plates composed of functionally graded materials with simply supported boundary conditions using finite element analysis have been studied. First-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT) has been applied in the research. Eight noded isoparametric serendipity plate bending elements have been used. Young’s modulus and density per unit volume are assumed to vary continuously through the plate thickness according to a power-law distribution. The results have been validated with the existing literature available from other analytical and numerical techniques. The effect of different plate parameters such as aspect ratios, edge constraints, thickness to length ratios, and gradient indices on the natural frequencies of FG rectangular plates are presented. It is found that the natural frequency depends considerably on the said parameters.