Low-velocity impact response of laminated FG-CNT reinforced composite plates in thermal environment

In this study, nonlinear response of laminated functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plate under low-velocity impact based on the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach in thermal conditions is studied. The governing equations are derived based on higher-order shear deformation plate theory (HSDT) under von Karman geometrical nonlinearity assumptions. The finite element method with 15 DOF at each node and Newmark\'s numerical integration method is applied to solve the governing equations. Four types of distributions of the uniaxially aligned reinforcement material through the thickness of the plates are considered. Material properties of the CNT and matrix are assumed to be temperature dependent. Contact force between the impactor and the laminated plate is obtained with the aid of the modified nonlinear Hertzian contact law models. In the numerical example, the effect of layup (stacking sequence) and lamination angle as well as the effect of temperature variations, distribution of CNTs, volume fraction of the CNTs, the mass and the velocity of the impactor in a constant energy level and boundary conditions on the impact response of the CNTRC laminated plates are investigated in details.