An analytical approach to large amplitude vibration and post-buckling of functionally graded beams rest on non-linear elastic foundation

In this paper, non-linear vibration and post-buckling analysis of beams made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) rest on a non-linear elastic foundation subjected to an axial force are studied. Based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and von-Karman geometric non-linearity, the partial differential equation (PDE) of motion is derived.Then, this PDE problem is simplified into an ordinary differential equation problem by using the Galerkin method. Finally, the governing equation is analytically solved using the variational iteration method (VIM). The results from the VIM solution are compared and shown to be in excellent agreement with the available solutions from the open literature. Some new results for the non-linear natural frequencies and buckling load of functionally graded (FG) beams, such as effects of vibration amplitude, elastic coefficients of foundation, axial force, end supports and material inhomogenity are presented for future references.