Modal Analysis of FGM Plates (Sus304/Al2O3) Using FEM

The present work aims to carry out modal analysis of a functionally graded material (FGM) plate to determine its natural frequencies and mode shapes by using Finite Element Method (FEM). For this purpose, a code was written in MATLAB and linked with ABAQUS. First, a simulation was performed in accordance to other researcher’s model, and then after comparing the obtained results, the accuracy of the present study was verified. The obtained results for natural frequency and mode shapes indicate good performance of user-written subroutine as well as FEM model used in present study. After verification of obtained results, the effect of clamping condition and the material type (i.e., the parameter n) was investigated. In this respect, finite element analysis was carried out in fully clamped condition for different values of n. The results indicate that the natural frequency decreases with increase of n, since with increase of n, the amount of ceramic phase in FGM plate decreases, while the amount of metal phase increases, leading to decrease of the plate stiffness and hence, natural frequency, as the Young modulus of Al2O3 is equal to 380 GPa and the Young modulus of SUS304 is equal to 207 GPa.