Buckling Analysis of Functionally Graded Plates: Influence of Homogenization, Geometry, and Porosity

Abstract This study presents a comprehensive analysis of critical buckling loads in functionally graded (FG) plates. It employs various homogenization models, including Voigt, Mori–Tanaka, Tamura, Reuss, and the Local Representative Volume Element (LRVE) approach, to investigate the influence of porosity, side-to-thickness ratio, and aspect ratio on the buckling behavior of FG plates under uniaxial and biaxial compression. The materials considered include Al/ZrO2, Al/Al2O3, and Al/SiC functionally graded material (FGM) plates. The study utilizes a high-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) to model the plate kinematics and introduces a novel shape function that satisfies the necessary conditions and improves the accuracy of the analysis. The results highlight the significant role of material indices, porosity, and geometric configurations in determining the buckling resistance of FG plates. The comparative analysis of the homogenization models provides valuable insights for the design and optimization of FG structures in engineering applications.