Static bending, free vibration, and buckling analyses of two-layer FGM plates with shear connectors resting on elastic foundations

This paper aims to carry out comprehensively the static bending, free vibration, and buckling analyses of two-layer FGM plates with shear connectors resting on elastic foundations, where two-layer FGM plates resting on Winker's-Pasternak elastic foundations taking into account relative sliding movements are analyzed by using the combination of Navier's solution and finite element method based on nth-order shear deformation plate theory. The plate is made up of two layers of FG materials joined by metal shear connectors. Lagrange and Hermitian shape functions are used to establish stiffness matrices, mass matrices, geometric stiffness matrices, and element force vectors. The suggested method and mechanical model are accurate when compared to the computed data from this research and reputable literature. The computed data accurately describes the mechanical response of the structure. Then a series of parameter investigations are conducted to capture the effects of the structure's geometrical and material features on the mechanical behavior of two-layer FG plates. The numerical results of this study may be utilized as a basis for future research, applications, and design of similar structures in mechanical and civil engineering practice. This is also a critical foundation for studying the dynamic behavior of structures with shear connectors. © 2022 THE AUTHORS