This paper presents the elastic buckling and static bending analysis of shear deformable functionally
graded (FG) porous beams based on the Timoshenko beam theory. The elasticity moduli and mass density
of porous composites are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to two different
distribution patterns. The open-cell metal foam provides a typical mechanical feature for this study to
determine the relationship between coefficients of density and porosity. The partial differential equation
system governing the buckling and bending behavior of porous beams is derived based on the Hamilton’s
principle. The Ritz method is employed to obtain the critical buckling loads and transverse bending
deflections, where the trial functions take the form of simple algebraic polynomials. Four different
boundary conditions are considered in the paper. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the
effects of porosity coefficient and slenderness ratio on the buckling and bending characteristics of porous
beams. The influence of varying porosity distributions on the structural performance is highlighted to
shed important insights into the porosity design to achieve improved buckling resistance and bending
behavior.