Elastic Analysis of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composite Plates with Piezoelectric Layers Using Shear Deformation Theory

Abstract

This paper investigates the deflection and stress behavior of composite plates reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with piezoelectric layers which are under transverse mechanical load. Two kinds of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (CNTRC) plates, namely uniformly distributed (UD) and functionally graded (FG) along the plate thickness, are considered. The extended rule of mixture approach is used to estimate the effective material properties. The governing equations are derived using the Hamilton approach based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT) and third-order shear deformation plate theory (TSDT). In addition, the Navier technique is employed to obtain the deflection and stress response of the nanocomposite plates. The results of present work are also compared with those available in the literature and show good agreement. The effects of applied force, volume fraction of CNT, distribution of CNT, thickness of piezoelectric layer, thickness to width ratio and aspect ratio on the static behavior are studied. In previous studies, deflection and stress analysis of nanocomposite plate with piezoelectric layers based on third-order shear deformation plate theory has not investigated.