LAUSR

Abstract A unified approach is developed for vibration and flutter analysis of elastically restrained stiffened functionally graded plates. A nonlinear temperature distribution throughout the thickness is considered in this study. The temperature dependent material properties assumed to change continuously along thickness is estimated by the Voigt model combined with a simple power- law distribution. The formulation is based on generalized variational principle and the first-order shear deformation theory, in which displacement variables of the plate is adopted to express the displacement field of stiffeners by imposing displacement continuous conditions at the interface. According to the linear piston theory the aerodynamic force is obtained. The penalty function method is used for simulation of the general boundary conditions. By selecting a modified Fourier series as the basis for the displacement variables, the solution can be obtained. The present approach is verified by comparisons between calculated results and those from the existing literature. The influence of the stiffener, gradient index, temperature change and elastic restraints on the dynamic behavior of stiffened FGM plates is discussed.