Thermal Vibration Analysis of Sandwich Cylindrical Shells with Porous FGM Surface Layers

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the thermal vibration characteristics of sandwich cylindrical shells consisting of two surface layers crafted from functionally graded materials (FGMs) and a central metal core layer. The sandwich cylindrical shells with FGMs surface layers, with and without porosity, are modelled by using the Kirchhoff–Love shell theory. A porosity function composed of three distinct parts is introduced, including the core-to-thickness ratio, porosity volume fraction, and porosity distribution function. Through the function, the significant effects of porosity that varies with the mixing degree of constituent materials can be analyzed. The material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent and they show continuous graded variation along the thickness direction. A theoretical approach for analyzing thermal strain energy in the cylindrical shells subjected to thermal environments is established by incorporating Green’s nonlinear strains. The governing equations are derived by applying Hamilton’s principle. Subsequently, analytical solutions for the system’s natural frequencies are determined. Further, to validate the analytical results, a comparative analysis is conducted, drawing upon numerical simulations and other data available in the open literature. Additionally, the thermal vibration characteristics of the composite shell structures are examined in a comprehensive study with respect to various parameters such as porosity type, porosity volume fraction, core-to-thickness ratio, power-law exponent, and temperature changes.