Moving Element Method for Dynamic Analyses of Functionally Graded Plates Resting on Pasternak Foundation Subjected to Moving Harmonic Load

This paper presents the moving element method (MEM) for dynamic analyses of functionally graded (FG) plates resting on Pasternak foundation under moving harmonic load. The Mindlin plate theory is used to model the FG plates. Macroscopic material properties of FG plates are assumed to continuously vary across the thickness direction by a simple power-law distribution. The governing equation of the FG plate is formulated in a coordinate system which moves along with the applied load. In addition, the method simply treats the moving load as “stationary” at the discretized node of plate to completely eliminate the update procedure of force vector due to the change of contact point with elements. To verify the accuracy of the computational paradigm, static and free vibration analyses of FG plates are examined first. Dynamic analyses of FG plates subjected to a moving harmonic load are then conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters such as volume fraction exponent, Young’ modulus, load velocity, foundation damping coefficient and load acceleration/deceleration on dynamic responses of the plate.