Free vibration analysis of FG-CNTRC shell structures using the meshfree radial point interpolation method

Abstract

This study conducts the first-known free vibration analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotubes-reinforced (FG-CNTRC) shell structures using the meshfree radial point interpolation method (RPIM). The modified first-order shear deformation theory (modified FSDT) is implemented to get the realistic effect of the transverse shear deformation with its parabolic distribution. Numerical examples are carried out to examine the convergence and accuracy of the element-free RPIM method in its application to the free vibration FG-CNTRC analysis of shell structures. Results obtained using the proposed meshfree method, demonstrate that the improved FSDT is very successful compared to closed-form solutions and finite element results using different shell theories.