Modeling thermo‐mechanical behaviors of carbon nanotube/polyurethane functionally graded shape memory polymer beam

Abstract In this paper, a new constitutive model which can model the thermo‐mechanical behaviors of functionally graded shape memory polymer (SMP) beam is established. The kinematic equation was established based on the SMP constitutive equation further derived and Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The material parameter equations were established by taking the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes (CNT) as the gradient based on the material parameter equations of SMP and properties of functionally graded materials. According to the constitutive model, the simply supported beam was taken for example to be solved and simulated by using the virtual work principle. The results show material parameters properties, deflection properties, stress properties and shape memory properties of CNT/carbon nanotube/polyurethane (PU) functionally graded beam and some conclusions are concluded. This work shows the thermo‐mechanical behavior of CNT/PU functionally graded beam, and it provides a theoretical basis for the practical application of functionally graded SMP materials.