Elastic behaviors of homogeneous and heterogeneous cylindrically curved panel under thermal load

In this study, an analytical model is developed to predict the elastic stress response of a thick walled cylindrically curved homogeneous and Functionally Graded Material (FGM) panels subjected to radial temperature gradient under the assumption of generalized plane strain. The ends of the panels in the angular direction are guided by rigid supports which allow a displacement in circumferential direction but fix the curvature of the middle surface. As thermal load is applied to the panels, couples act on those ends, giving rise to pure bending conditions even in case of homogeneous heating (for FGM panel). Moreover, the free ends in the axial direction of the panel are taken into consideration. Section of the FGM panel, the material is power-law functionally graded, and - based on the rule of mixtures - a coherent dependence of all the material properties (except for Poisson's ratio) on the radial coordinate is taken into account. The stresses occurring for both a positive and a negative temperature gradient are analyzed, and one finds that, depending on the grading parameter, the yield limit according to von Mises and Tresca may be reached either at the inner surface, the outer surface or at both surfaces simultaneously. Numerical results are provided for a homogeneous (pure steel or pure aluminum), a steel/aluminum FGM, and an aluminum/steel FGM. It is shown that by appropriate grading not only a reduction of the couples acting at the supports but in some cases also a considerable reduction of the weight of the panel may be achieved.