Thermo-elastic free vibration analysis of functionally graded flat panel with temperature gradient along thickness

In this paper, the free vibration behavior of functionally graded (FG) flat panels subjected to temperature gradient along the thickness direction is investigated by utilizing the temperature independent as well as dependent material properties. The FG panels are modeled using ANSYS commercial package in the framework of first-order shear deformation theory. The convergence and the validity of the present model have been established by comparing the present results with the benchmark results available in published literature. Subsequently, the influence of elevated temperature load, aspect ratio, thickness ratio, and support conditions on the non-dimensional fundamental frequency is investigated by varying the gradient index of the FG panel. The temperature and the consideration of the temperature dependence of the material properties is found have significant influence on the fundamental frequency of the FG panel. The effect of other design parameters on the natural frequency of the FG flat panel under thermal environment has also been examined and discussed in detail.