Coupling effect between highly nonlinear solitary waves and functionally graded porous plates reinforced with graphene platelets

Solitary waves possess extensive potential for application in non-destructive testing due to their role as efficient information carriers. This study investigates the coupling effect between highly nonlinear solitary waves and functionally graded porous plates reinforced with graphene platelets (FGP-GPLs). An improved Halpin–Tsai micromechanics model and an improved two-variable precision plate theory are employed to derive a differential equation system for the coupling of particle chains and FGP-GPLs. The system is solved using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method to obtain velocity and displacement solutions of the particles. The time and amplitude of the rebound waves are analysed, and it is found that the pore distribution, graphene distribution, porosity coefficient, thickness ratio, and graphene weight fraction impact the solitary wave. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the non-destructive detection of FGP-GPLs by solitary waves, which enables rapid inspection and controllability studies of structures. Moreover, this technology expands the application fields of nonlinear solitary waves based on one-dimensional spherical particle chains.