Investigation of Mechanical Behaviors of Functionally Graded CNT-Reinforced Composite Plates

Abstract

In this paper, the mechanical behavior of a functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plate is numerically investigated. According to the concept of a hierarchical model, the displacement is decomposed into the in-field functions and the assumed thickness-wise monomial. The former is defined on the plate midsurface and is approximated by the 2-D meshfree natural element method (NEM). The FG-CNTRC plate is modeled as a homogenized orthotropic body, and its effective elastic properties are determined by referring to MD simulation and the linear rule of mixtures. Regarding the thickness-wise distribution of CNTs, one uniform and three functionally gradient distributions are taken. Through comparative numerical experiments, the reliability of the numerical method is justified with the maximum relative difference of 6.12%. The effects of the volume fraction and vertical distribution of CNTs, the plate width-thickness and aspect ratios, and the boundary conditions on the bending, free vibration, and buckling behaviors of FG-CNTRC plates are examined. It is found that the mechanical behavior of FG-CNTRC plates is significantly dependent of these major parameters.

Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Flexural Behavior of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Textile Based Composites

“…CNT attracts attention as a cutting-edge material of this century due to its excellent physical, electrical, and chemical properties [ 17 , 18 ]. The mechanical strength of the CNT-reinforced polymer (CNTRC) composite increases significantly when only a tiny amount of CNT is added [ 19 ]. CNTRCs, used as content components in different engineering applications, have been developed as beam [ 20 ], plate [ 21 , 22 ], and shell [ 23 ] elements.…”

Optimal Tailoring of CNT Distribution in Functionally Graded Porous CNTRC Beams

“…These advanced composites were developed based on the excellence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the notion of functionally graded materials (FGMs) [ 3 ]. The mechanical strength of polymer composites increases dramatically when only a small amount of CNTs are inserted [ 4 ], so that CNT-reinforced composites (CNTRCs) can provide higher bending stiffness and superior free vibration and buckling behaviors than the conventional polymer composites [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In mechanical applications, CNTRCs have been produced in the form of beams, plates, and shells which exhibit the thickness-wise variation in their mechanical behaviors.…”

Numerical Optimization of CNT Distribution in Functionally Graded CNT-Reinforced Composite Beams

“…A representative quality is the high weight–stiffness ratio, so that CNTs can be used as a next-generation pillar for polymer-matrix composites. In fact, the mechanical strength of the CNT-reinforced polymer composite dramatically increases when only a small amount of CNTs are inserted [ 3 ]. In mechanical applications, CNTRCs have been developed in the form of beams, plates and shells, because these are used as ingredient components in a variety of engineering applications.…”

“…Since their introduction, extensive research efforts have focused on FG-CNTRCs to investigate their mechanical behaviors, particularly the parametric investigation with respect to the thickness-wise distribution pattern of CNTs. For example, Zhu et al [ 15 ] and Cho and Ahn [ 3 ] numerically investigated the influence of CNT distribution pattern on the bending deformation and the natural frequencies of FG-CNTRC plates using finite and natural element methods. Cheshmeh et al [ 16 ] investigated the buckling and vibration behaviors of FG-CNTRC plate with respect to the CNT distribution pattern and the CNT volume fraction using the higher-order shear deformation theory.…”