Size-Dependent Thermal Buckling and Postbuckling of Functionally Graded Annular Microplates Based on the Modified Strain Gradient Theory

This article reports on the thermal instability of functionally graded (FG) annular microplates with different boundary conditions. The modified strain gradient elasticity theory is employed to capture size effects. The non-linear governing equations and boundary conditions are derived based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and virtual displacements principle. The generalized differential quadrature technique is implemented so as to discretize. To obtain the critical buckling temperature, the set of linear discretized governing equations is solved as an eigenvalue problem. Also, the non-linear problem of thermal postbuckling is solved by the pseudo arc-length continuation method. The effects of boundary conditions, length scale parameter, and the variation of material through the thickness and geometrical properties on both critical buckling temperature and thermal postbuckling behavior are studied.