Large deformation analysis for functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite plates using an efficient and simple refined theory

In this paper, the nonlinear cylindrical bending behavior of functionally graded nanocomposite plates reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is studied using an efficient and simple refined theory. This theory is based on assumption that the in-plane and transverse displacements consist of bending and shear components in which the bending components do not contribute toward shear forces and, likewise, the shear components do not contribute toward bending moments. The material properties of SWCNTs are assumed to be temperature-dependent and are obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. The material properties of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTCRs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction, and are estimated through a micromechanical model. The fundamental equations for functionally graded nanocomposite plates are obtained using the Von-Karman theory for large deflections and the solution is obtained by minimization of the total potential energy. The numerical illustrations concern the nonlinear bending response of FG-CNTRC plates under different sets of thermal environmental conditions, from which results for uniformly distributed CNTRC plates are obtained as comparators.