A novel four variable refined plate theory for bending, buckling, and vibration of functionally graded plates

This work presents a bending, buckling, and vibration analysis of functionally graded plates by employing a novel higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). This theory has only four unknowns, which is even less than the first shear deformation theory (FSDT). A shear correction coefficient is, thus, not needed. Unlike the conventional HSDT, the present one has a new displacement field which introduces undetermined integral variables. Equations of motion are obtained by utilizing the Hamilton's principles and solved via Navier's procedure. The convergence and the validation of the proposed theoretical numerical model are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the model.