Buckling Analysis of Functionally Graded Nanocomposite Plates Reinforced by Aggregated Carbon Nanotube

In this paper, a refined plate theory is applied to investigate buckling analysis of functionally graded nanocomposite plates reinforced by aggregated carbon nanotube (CNT). The refined shear deformation plate theory (RSDT) uses only four independent unknowns and accounts for a quadratic variation of the transverse shear strains across the thickness, and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factors. The equilibrium equations are derived by using of Hamilton’s energy principle and Navier’s method is applied to solve this equation. The material properties of the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composites (FG-CNTRCs) are assumed to vary along the thickness and estimated by Mori–Tanaka approach. The effects of CNT volume fraction, CNT distribution, cluster distribution and geometric dimensions of plate are investigated on the critical buckling load of the FG-CNTRC plates. Also, effect of loading condition on the critical buckling load is examined

Keywords:

Plates , Mori–Tanaka approach , Refined plate theory , Aggregated carbon nanotubes , buckling