In this study, static behaviors of functionally graded plates resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation using the four-variable refined theory and the physical neutral surface concept is reported. The four-variable refined theory assumes that the transverse shear strain has a parabolic distribution across the plate’s thickness, thus, there is no need to use the shear correction factor. The material properties of the plate vary continuously and smoothly according to the thickness direction by a power-law distribution. The geometrical middle surface of the functionally graded plate selected in computations is very popular in the existing literature. By contrast, in this study, the physical neutral surface of the plate is used. Based on the four-variable refined plate theory and the principle of virtual work, the governing equations of the plate are derived. Next, an analytical solution for the functionally graded plate resting on the Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is solved using the Navier’s procedure. In numerical investigations, a comparison of the static behaviors of the functionally graded plate between several models of displacement field using the physical neutral surface is given, and parametric studies are also presented.
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