Static analysis of functionally graded sandwich shell panels subjected to uniform mechanical and thermal loads, using a layerwise theory and Sanders' approximation has been carried out. The sandwich shell panel is made of isotropic face sheets and functionally graded material (FGM) core. The material properties of the FGM core are varied according to a power law distribution in terms of volume fraction of the constituent material. An eight noded isoparametric element is used to model the shell element using the finite element method. Heat conduction in thickness direction is taken into account. The effect of varying parameters like volume fraction, core thickness, thermal gradient and shell form on linear static behavior of sandwich FGM shells is investigated.

Keywords: Static analysis, Functionally graded sandwich shells, Layerwise theory, Heat conduction, Finite element method.