Supersonic flutter characteristics of functionally graded flat panels including thermal effects

Abstract In the present work, the influence of thermal environment on the supersonic flutter behavior of flat panels made of functionally graded materials is investigated using the finite element procedure. The structural formulation is based on first-order shear theory and material properties are assumed to be temperature dependent and graded in the thickness direction according to power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The aerodynamic force is evaluated by considering the first-order high Mach number approximation to linear potential flow theory. The solutions for the complex eigenvalue problem, formulated based on Lagrange’s equation of motion, are obtained using the standard eigenvalue algorithm. The variation of critical aerodynamic pressure is brought out considering different parameters such as plate thickness, aspect ratio, power law index of functionally graded materials, temperature-dependent material properties, damping and boundary conditions. The influence of aerodynamic damping and thermal gradient on the flutter behavior of functionally graded plates is also highlighted.