Study on dynamic characteristics of composite plates under non-uniform gradient temperature along the thickness

A study is carried out on free vibration characteristics of a composite laminated plate under non-uniform gradient temperature distribution along the thickness (NGTDT). The NGTDT will cause different thermal stress and deformation compared with no gradient or uniform gradient temperature distribution along the thickness. The governing equation is established considering the influence of NGTDT using the von Karman–type geometric nonlinearity and the first-order shear deformation theory based on Hamilton’s principle. The semi-analysis solution is solved by an iteration method, and it is in good agreement with the results of FEM. The solutions show that the NGTDT leads to the critical buckling temperature of the plate that is no longer constant but varies with different NGTDT, that is, the transition point of the resonant frequency decreasing first and then increasing with the temperature is related to the NGTDT. This is very different from the results caused by no gradient or uniform gradient temperature distribution along the thickness.