An Accurate Solution for Buckling and Nonlinear Analysis of a Sandwich Beam with Functionally Graded Material by Considering Zigzag Displacements

In this paper, critical buckling analysis and nonlinear load-deflection curve for sandwich beam with functionally graded material are presented based on refined zigzag theory (RZT). By using the variational principle, the equilibrium equations in buckling analysis are given based on the RZT formulations as well as the nonlinear strain-displacement relations. The solutions are also derived for eigenvalue problems in critical buckling load calculations and for load-deflection relations with initial geometric imperfection. The solutions are presented analytically, and the mathematical properties during the derivation process have been proven in order to keep the mathematical rigor. The present analytical RZT critical buckling loads are validated by the RZT FEM, which is the finite element solutions of the sandwich beam meshed by the beam elements based on RZT. These solutions are also compared by commercial software ANSYS, resulting that this approach can obtain an accurate critical buckling load. Various parameters such as aspect ratio, thickness ratio and modulus ratio are considered to investigate their effects on the critical buckling loads. The present results are compared to the beams with higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). From the comparisons of the RZT and the HSDT results, it is seen that both theories approach to CBT for slender beam. The results show that the HSDT overestimates the stiffness in the load-deflection curve. It is shown that the RZT exhibits the zigzag displacements at high accuracy, resulting in accurate calculation in critical buckling loads, mode shapes and nonlinear load-deflection curves than HSDT. The superiority of the RZT solutions is presented especially for the case of FGM sandwich beam with soft middle layer.