ABSTRACT
This chapter is devoted to the finite element modeling of axisymmetric circular plates based on various plate theories. In particular, it considers linear and nonlinear bending analysis of homogeneous and through-thickness functionally graded circular plates with different boundary conditions. The chapter develops the displacement finite element models of the classical, first-order, and third-order plate theories, and a mixed model of the classical plate theory. It also presents the displacement finite element model for static case of the third-order plate theories for circular plates. The number of Gauss points used for the evaluation of the first category of terms is dictated by the highest degree polynomial. The chapter presents the displacement finite element model for static case of the TST for circular plates. The evaluation of the element stiffness and force coefficients defined for various finite element models is carried out using numerical integration, which is necessary especially due to the nonlinear terms.
