A modified couple stress theory for buckling analysis of higher order inhomogeneous microbeams with porosities.

In this paper, buckling behavior of a higher order functionally graded microbeam with porosities is investigated based on the modified couple stress theory and the exact position of the neutral axis. Porosities are evenly and unevenly distributed inside the functionally graded microbeam. Material properties of the functionally graded microbeam are assumed to vary in the thickness direction through a modified form of power-law distribution in which the volume fraction of porosities is considered. The governing equations are derived by using Hamilton's principle and an analytical method is employed to solve these equations for various boundary conditions. The present formulation and numerical results demonstrate a good agreement with some available cases in the literature. Influences of several important parameters such as power-law exponent, porosity distributions, porosity volume fraction, slenderness ratio, and various boundary conditions on buckling loads of porous functionally graded microbeams are investigated and discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]