Free vibration and buckling behavior of functionally graded porous plates reinforced by graphene platelets using spectral Chebyshev approach

Abstract This study investigates the vibration and buckling behavior of functionally graded porous composite plates reinforced with graphene platelets (GPLs) using spectral-Chebyshev approach. Buckling strength and vibration behavior depend highly on the dispersion of porosity and nanofiller material along the thickness of the composite plates. The effective material properties are determined based on the volume fractions of the constituent materials. To accurately capture the material gradation, the plate is divided into multiple layers. The governing boundary value problem is derived using first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and following an energy based approach. To accurately and efficiently solve the boundary value problem, a meshless/spectral method based on Chebyshev polynomials is used. The developed solution approach enables the solution of functionally graded (porous) composite plates under various loading and boundary conditions. To demonstrate the accuracy and the computational performance of the solution approach, two case studies are investigated including composite plates having different porosity distributions and reinforcement amounts. Furthermore, comprehensive parametric studies are carried out to understand how porosity distribution and GPL reinforcements affect the vibration and buckling behavior of composite plates.