Buckling and Free Vibration Analysis of Fiber Metal-laminated Plates Resting on Partial Elastic Foundation

This research presents, buckling and free vibration analysis of fiber metal-laminated (FML) plates on a total and partial elastic foundation using the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). The partial foundation consists of multi-section Winkler and Pasternak type elastic foundation. Taking into consideration the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), FML plate is modeled and its equations of motion and boundary conditions are derived using Hamilton's principle. The formulations include Heaviside function effects due to the nonhomogeneous foundation. The novelty of this study is considering the effects of partial foundation and in-plane loading, in addition to considering the various boundary conditions of FML plate. A computer program is written using the present formulation for calculating the natural frequencies and buckling loadings of composite plates without contacting with elastic foundation and composite plates resting on partial foundations. The validation is done by comparison of continuous element model with available results in the literature. The results show that the constant of total or partial spring, elastic foundation parameter, thickness ratio, frequency mode number and boundary conditions play an important role on the critical buckling load and natural frequency of the FML plate resting on partial foundation under in-plane force.