LAUSR

Thermal buckling problem of cylindrical shells made from functionally graded materials (FGM) is investigated under the framework of Donnell shell theory. The elastoplastic properties of FGM are described by Tamura–Tomota–Ozawa model, with a power law hardening model of metallic constituents, and the material-graded characteristic through the thickness is taken into account. $$J_{2}$$ flow theory helps to formulate the power law hardening constitutive relation of FGM, and Mises yield criterion is used to determine the position of elastoplastic material interface. The buckling critical temperature is obtained by employing a semi-analytical method programmed to converge both the prebuckling and the buckling internal forces iteratively. Three thermal cases, i.e., uniform, linear or nonlinear distribution of temperature rises through the thickness, are considered. Results reveal the different behaviors of elastoplastic buckling from those of elastic buckling and highlight the significance of considering the temperature-dependent material properties in the elastoplastic thermal buckling analysis of FGM cylindrical shells.