Mechanical buckling analysis of thick FGM toroidal shell segments with porosities using Reddy's higher order shear deformation theory.

An analytical investigation on buckling behavior of thick functionally graded shells with nearly cylindrical shapes and porosities under mechanical loads is presented in this paper. Loading conditions considered are that axial compressive load, lateral pressure and combined mechanical loads in thermal environments. Porosities are evenly or unevenly distributed within the shell. Governing equations are established based on a higher order shear deformation theory taking into account interaction between the shell and surrounding elastic medium. Two-term form of deflection is assumed to satisfy simply supported boundary conditions and Galerkin method is applied to derive closed-form results of buckling loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]