Correlation of CLPT and FSDT Responses in CNT/Polymer Composite Beams Under Deflection and Buckling

Abstract

The principal intention of this research paper is to compare the Classical Laminate Plate Theory (CLPT) and First-order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) based on the buckling and deflection performance of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Reinforced Polymer Composite beams. A symmetric, eight layered, and simply supported nanocomposite beam is taken for the comparison of CLPT and FSDT. The Mori-Tanaka micro-mechanical approach is used for the computation of elastic constants as a function of volume fraction of CNT reinforcement for the CNT/Polymer composite material. The elastic constants obtained are extensively utilized to discover the critical buckling loads and deflections by using CLPT and FSDT. The variations are presented in graphical form for the buckling and deflection of beams for various stacking sequences and CNT volume fractions. The effect of shear deformation is studied in both deflection and buckling of nanocomposite beams. The effect of beam thickness on the bending loads and buckling loads in both the theories is also studied from the results.