Buckling analysis of functionally graded microbeams based on the strain gradient theory

The buckling behavior of size-dependent microbeams made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) for different boundary conditions is investigated on the basis of Bernoulli–Euler beam and modified strain gradient theory. The higher-order governing differential equation for buckling with all possible classical and non-classical boundary conditions is obtained by a variational statement. The effects of the power of the material property variation function, boundary conditions, slenderness ratio, ratio of additional material length scale parameters for two constituents, beam thickness-to-additional material length scale parameter ratio on the buckling response of FGM microbeams are investigated. Some comparative results are presented in tabular and graphical form in order to show the differences between the results obtained by the present model and those predicted by modified couple stress and classical continuum models.