Thermo-mechanical buckling behavior of functionally graded microbeams embedded in elastic medium

Thermo-mechanical size-dependent buckling analysis of embedded functionally graded (FG) microbeams is performed based on sinusoidal shear deformation beam and modified couple stress theories. It is assumed that material properties vary smoothly and continuously throughout the thickness. Winkler elastic foundation model is used to simulate the interaction between FG microbeam and elastic medium. The governing equations and corresponding boundary conditions are obtained with the aid of minimum total potential energy principle. The buckling characteristics of simply supported embedded FG microbeams in thermal environment are investigated. The obtained results are compared with the results of simple beam theory with no shear deformation effects and classical theory. Influences of thickness-to-material length scale parameter ratio, material property gradient index, slenderness ratio, temperature change and Winkler parameter on critical buckling loads of embedded FG microbeams are discussed in detail. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.