Size-dependent bending, buckling and free vibration analyses of microscale functionally graded mindlin plates based on the strain gradient elasticity theory

In this paper, a size-dependent microscale plate model is developed to describe the bending, buckling and free vibration behaviors of microplates made of functionally graded materials (FGMs). The size effects are captured based on the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT), and the formulation of the paper is on the basis of Mindlin plate theory. The presented model accommodates the models based upon the classical theory (CT) and the modified couple stress theory (MCST) if all or two scale parameters are set to zero, respectively. By using Hamilton’s principle, the governing equations and related boundary conditions are derived. The bending, buckling and free vibration problems are considered and are solved through the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method. A detailed parametric and comparative study is conducted to evaluate the effects of length scale parameter, material gradient index and aspect ratio predicted by the CT, MCST and MSGT on the deflection, critical buckling load and first natural frequency of the microplate. The numerical results indicate that the model developed herein is significantly sizedependent when the thickness of the microplate is on the order of the material scale parameters.