Static bending and buckling analyses of GPL-FGM microplates placed on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation

Abstract

In this article, the static bending and buckling behaviors of microplates resting on a Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is studied. The microplate model is composed of metal-ceramic functionally graded material (FGM) reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs), forming a GPL-FGM microplate. The FGM matrix properties vary according to the power-law distribution model, whereas the GPLs are distributed following five patterns (D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5) across the thickness. The governing equations for static bending and buckling analyses of the microplate model are derived utilizing the modified couple stress theory (MCST), four-unknown refined plate theory, and the Ritz method. The proposed solution is verified through comparison with existing results from the literature, and influence of some key factors on the non-dimensional deflection and the critical buckling load of the microplate are studied.