Phase-field buckling analysis of cracked stiffened functionally graded plates

A finite element method and phase-field model used by authors have been firstly extended to the buckling analysis of stiffened functionally graded (FG) plate with cracks. The finite formulation of the plate is based on the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The material properties of the FG plate change from the bottom surface to the top one by a power-law function, the stiffener is full of the material, which is the same as the bottom surface, where the stiffeners are attached to. Firstly this work studies on the accuracy of our results with reference solutions available in the literature. Then, the exploration of the interaction between the stiffeners and cracks under compressive buckling is investigated. The numerical results show much useful information for readers, scientists, designers, especially the smallest of the stiffener depth needs to add to the cracked FG plate to have a cracked one with stiffeners, which has the same buckling strength as the uncracked FG plate with no stiffeners. © 2019