Three-dimensional thermoelastic deformations of a functionally graded elliptic plate

A new solution in closed form is obtained for the thermomechanical deformat ions of an isotropic linear thermoelastic functionally graded elliptic plat e rigidly clamped at the edges. The through-thickness variation of the volu me fraction of the ceramic phase in a metal-ceramic plate is assumed to be given by a power-law type function. The effective material properties at a point are computed by the Mori-Tanaka scheme. It is found that the through- thickness distributions of the in-plane displacements and transverse shear stresses in a functionally graded plate do not agree with those assumed in classical and shear deformation plate theories. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.