Nonlinear low‐velocity impact analysis of functionally graded nanotube‐reinforced composite cylindrical shells in thermal environments

This paper presents a nonlinear analysis of impact response of nanocomposites cylindrical shells reinforced by single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in thermal environments. The nanotube reinforcement distributions are either uniform or functionally graded in the shell thickness direction. Micromechanical models are employed to estimate the material properties of nanotube reinforced composites. A higher‐order shear deformation theory with a von Kármán‐type of kinematic nonlinearity yields the equations of motion. By considering the nanotube reinforced composites as temperature‐dependent, the thermal effects are included. A two‐step perturbation technique is used to solve the equations of motion. A parametric study is carried out, and the effects of nanotube distribution and its volume fraction, impactor initial velocity, temperature change, geometric parameter of shell, and edge boundary condition on the impact response of the shell are discussed. The numerical results show that the central deflection of the shell subjected to impact is sinusoidal. It is found that the nanotube distribution through the thickness can alter the amplitude and the frequency of the central deflection and also the energy absorption significantly. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:730–745, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers