On the thermal bending behavior of porous cross-ply laminated plates using an improved first-order shear deformation theory

This article investigates the stresses and displacements of porous anti-symmetric cross-ply laminated plates under nonlinear thermal load applied along the thickness of the plate. Innovatively, this study considers three porosity distribution models and utilizes an improved first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) with four variables, as opposed to five in conventional FSDT, to conduct the thermal flexural analysis of the plate. Furthermore, the present theory has a parabolic shear stresses distribution across the thickness, so the need for a shear correction factor is removed. The plate’s top and bottom boundary conditions are satisfied. The plate is simply supported on all its edges. The governing differential equations (GDEs) and the boundary conditions were obtained using the virtual work principle. Navier’s procedure was utilized to derive the analytical solutions. The present theory’s validity is attested by the comparison with classical, first-order, higher-order, quasi-3D, and exact elasticity plate theories’ results. The influence of certain parameters, such as porosity volume fraction and porosity distribution models, on the plate’s flexural response is investigated. The results show that the thermally induced laminated plate’s response is most affected by porosity model 1. While the effects of porosity model 3 are fairly negligible in comparison, except for planar normal stresses and transverse shear stresses. Moreover, the effect of porosity becomes more significant as the porosity volume fraction increases.