We present the analytical solution for a beam made of a functionally graded material
based on first-order shear deformation theory and subjected to lateral thermal shock
loads. The beam is assumed to be graded across the thickness direction. The material
properties across the thickness direction follow the volume fraction of the constitutive
materials in power law form. The solution is obtained under the coupled
thermoelastic assumption. The equation of motion and the conventional
coupled energy equation are simultaneously solved to obtain the transverse
deflection and temperature distribution in the beam. The governing partial
differential equations are solved using the finite Fourier transformation method.
Using the Laplace transform, the unknown variables are obtained in the
Laplace domain. Applying the analytical Laplace inverse method, the solution
in the time domain is derived. Results are presented for different power
law indices and the coupling coefficients for a beam with simply supported
boundary conditions. The results are validated with data reported in the
literature.