A novel analytical approach for the buckling analysis of moderately thick functionally graded rectangular plates with two simply-supported opposite edges

Abstract In this article, a novel analytical method for decoupling the coupled stability equations of functionally graded (FG) rectangular plates is introduced. Based on the Mindlin plate theory, the governing stability equations that are coupled in terms of displacement components are derived. Introducing four new functions, the coupled stability equations are converted into two independent equations. The obtained equations have been solved for buckling analysis of rectangular plates with simply-supported two edges and arbitrary boundary conditions along the other edges (Levy boundary conditions). The critical buckling loads are presented for different loading conditions, various thickness to side and aspect ratios, some powers of FG materials, and various boundary conditions. The presented results for buckling of moderately thick FG plates with two simply-supported edges are reported for the first time.