A new approach for buckling analysis of axially functionally graded beams

The object of considerations are axially functionally graded (FG) beams, which are loaded by an axial force varying along the length of the beam. The main idea presented here is to approximate FG beams by an equivalent beam with piecewise exponentially varying material properties, geometrical properties and axial load. Numerical solutions of the buckling analysis are obtained for four various types of boundary conditions associated with pinned and clamped ends. The usefulness of the proposed method is confirmed by comparing numerical results with those available for graded beams of special polynomial non-homogeneity.