Nonlinear postbuckling and snap-through instability of movable simply supported BDFG porous plates rested on elastic foundations.

This study presents, for the first time, a novel mathematical model that can address the nonlinear buckling, postbuckling, and snap-through of bidirectional functionally graded porous simply supported plates rested on elastic foundation and subjected to uniaxial/biaxial compressive loads. The parabolic shear deformation plate theory and the von Kármán strain nonlinearity are employed to derive governing equilibrium equations relative to neutral surface plane. The governing equations that consist of four nonlinear-coupled variable-coefficients partial differential equations are discretized by using the differential/integral quadrature method. The solution methodology depends on whether the discretized nonlinear algebraic system is homogeneous (with zero force vector) or nonhomogeneous. A homogeneous system can be formulated and solved as a nonlinear eigenvalue problem. Pseudo-arc-length continuation is implemented with a proposed iterative method to predict the load-deflection paths whether the system is homogeneous or not. Theoretical analysis and numerical results indicate that the type of porosity and position of in-plane loading have significant effects on the pitchfork-bifurcation or snap-through instability response of the bidirectional functionally graded porous plate. Parametric studies are presented to illustrate the impact of gradation indices, geometrical properties, porosity, and foundation constants on the postbuckling responses of bidirectional functionally graded porous plates. The proposed model may be used in designing nuclear, marine, aerospace, and civil structures with bi-directional functionally graded material constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]