An analytical study on the free vibration of moderately thick fluid-infiltrated porous annular sector plates

An exact analytical approach based on Mindlin plate theory is considered for free vibration analysis of fluid-saturated porous annular sector plates. The interconnected network of pores is saturated by inviscid fluid and the fluid is trapped in the network. The plate’s radial edges are considered to be simply supported and four auxiliary functions are used to evaluate the natural frequencies of porous plates under undrained condition. The mechanical properties of the material are considered to vary through the thickness by expressing shear modulus and density in terms of a simple cosine rule in case of plates with pores free of fluid. The present method is validated by comparing it with the results of other accurate solutions found in the literature. The influence of the coefficient of plate porosity, geometrical parameters as well as the effect of fluid on natural frequency response of porous annular sector plates under various boundary conditions are comprehensively investigated. It is found that the presence of fluid in the interconnected network of pores causes the fundamental natural frequency to increase. The method proposed in this paper may provide useful information for the future assessments of the dynamic response of porous structures when fluid–solid interaction effects are fully taken into account.