Techno Press
Techno Press

Steel and Composite Structures
  Volume 59, Number 1, April 10 2026 , pages 055-80
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/scs.2026.59.1.055
 


Large deflection analysis of thin-walled members with functionally graded materials along the thickness direction
A.H.A. Abdelrahman, Wen-Long Gao, Sameh Lotfy, Guanhua Li, Si-Wei Liu

 
Abstract
    While functionally graded materials (FGMs) offer significant potential for optimizing structural elements, thin-walled members featuring non-uniform material distributions encounter complex buckling modes due to inherent cross-sectional asymmetry. Addressing the challenge of efficiently modeling these behaviors, this paper introduces a computational framework combining advanced cross-sectional analysis with a large deflection beam-column formulation. First, a novel "functionally graded segments method" is developed for thin-walled open sections with FGMs graded along the thickness direction. This algorithm robustly computes crucial cross-sectional properties, specifically capturing the shear center coordinates and Wagner coefficients resulting from material gradients. Subsequently, a new warping line finite element is formulated that explicitly integrates these nonsymmetric FGM section properties. Through a series of validation examples, the proposed method demonstrates remarkable accuracy in predicting large-deflection responses, offering a computationally efficient alternative to complex shell or solid finite element models. This research provides a versatile tool specifically designed for the advanced analysis and design of open-section thin-walled members utilizing FGMs.
 
Key Words
    functionally graded; large deflection; open-sections; section properties; thin-walled
 
Address
A.H.A. Abdelrahman:Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt

Wen-Long Gao:Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Hong Kong, China

Sameh Lotfy:Civil Engineering Department, Misr Higher Institute for Engineering and Technology, Egypt

Guanhua Li:Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Hong Kong, China

Si-Wei Liu:Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Hong Kong, China
 

Techno-Press: Publishers of international journals and conference proceedings.       Copyright © 2026 Techno Press
P.O. Box 33, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-600 Korea, Tel: +82-42-828-7996, Fax : +82-42-828-7997, Email: admin@techno-press.com