Nonlinear hygro-thermo-mechanical buckling analysis of eccentrically stiffened thin FG cylindrical panel on elastic foundations

Exact and numerical solution of eccentrically stiffened panels in the industry is a major step forward in the design of these structures. This paper presents an analytical approach to investigate the nonlinear stability analysis of eccentrically stiffened thin FG cylindrical panels on elastic foundations subjected to hygro-thermo-mechanical loads. The stiffeners are assumed to be spiral-type. The panel has the initial geometrical imperfection. The material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent and graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution. The elastic foundation is considered based on Winkler and Pasternak proposed model. Governing equations are derived basing on the Lekhnitsky smeared stiffeners technique and classical shell theory incorporating Von Karman-Donnell geometrical type nonlinearity. Explicit relations of load–deflection curves for FG cylindrical panels are determined by applying stress function and Galerkin method. The effects of angel of stiffener, different dimensional parameters, volume fraction index, initial geometrical imperfection, the stiffness of elastic foundation and moisture concentration on the postbuckling of FG panel are investigated. Also effects of temperature gradient through the thickness and effects of different boundary conditions are investigated for thermo-mechanical loading. The obtained results are validated by comparing with those in the literature.