Static solutions for functionally graded simply supported plates

In this article mixed semi-analytical and analytical solutions are presented for a rectangular plate made of functionally graded (FG) material. All edges of a plate are under simply supported (diaphragm) end conditions and general stress boundary conditions can be applied on both top and bottom surface of a plate during solution. A mixed semi-analytical model consists in defining a two-point boundary value problem governed by a set of first-order ordinary differential equations in the plate thickness direction. Analytical solutions based on shear-normal deformation theories are also established to show the accuracy, simplicity and effectiveness of mixed semi-analytical model. The FG material is assumed to be exponential in the thickness direction and Poisson’s ratio is assumed to be constant.