Flutter analysis of laminated composite quadrilateral plates reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets using the element-free IMLS-Ritz method

Abstract

This paper investigates the flutter characteristics of graphene nanoplatelet (GPL) reinforced laminated composite quadrilateral plates using the element-free IMLS-Ritz method. The modified Halpin-Tsai model and rule of mixture are employed to predict the effective material properties including Young's modulus, mass density and Poisson's ratio. The energy functions of GPL reinforced composite (GPLRC) quadrilateral plates are obtained by the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and first order piston theory. Based on the IMLS-Ritz approximation, the discrete dynamic equation of GPLRC quadrilateral plates is derived. The accuracy of the IMLS-Ritz results is examined by comparing the natural frequencies with those obtained from published values. A comprehensive parametric study is carried out, with a particular focus on the effects of weight fraction, distribution pattern, total number of layers, geometry and size of GPL reinforcements and geometric parameters of quadrilateral plates on the flutter boundary of GPLRC quadrilateral plates.