Effects of graphene-platelets reinforcement on the free vibration, bending, and buckling of porous functionally-graded metal-ceramic plates

Abstract

This paper presents a first investigation of the mechanical behavior of porous functionally-graded material (FGM) plates reinforced with graphene platelets (GPls) nanomaterial. As a main purpose, we extend the research on GPls incorporation from single-component matrix materials to porous metal-ceramic FGMs. Four different through-thickness distributions of GPls and porosities were investigated. The effective elastic modulus of GPls-reinforced FGM was calculated using the Halpin-Tsai homogenization model, and the effect of porosities on elastic properties was considered by an exponential model that is more accurate than the common rule of mixture. A recent hyperbolic higher-order plate theory that satisfies the traction-free boundary conditions and a parabolic variation of shear stresses was used to model kinematics. The influence of various parameters was studied after method validation, and it was revealed that GPls not only can improve the stiffness and mechanical response of FGM plates, but can also eliminate the inherent transverse anisotropy of FGMs and uncouple the static response when dispersed in proper distribution pattern. This effect will result in zero mid-plane extension in bending conditions, in a similar behavior to isotropic plates.