Semi-analytical buckling analysis of heterogeneous variable thickness viscoelastic circular plates on elastic foundations

Buckling analysis of the functionally graded viscoelastic circular plates has not been carried out so far. In the present paper, a series solution is developed for buckling analysis of radially graded FG viscoelastic circular plates with variable thickness resting on two-parameter elastic foundations, based on Mindlin's plate theory. The complex modulus approach in combination with the elastic–viscoelastic correspondence principle is employed to obtain the solution for various edge conditions. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate effects of various parameters on the buckling load. Results reveal that the viscoelastic behavior of the materials may postpone the buckling occurrence and the stiffness reduction due to the section variations may be compensated by the graded material properties.