Free vibration and transient response of initially compressed CNT-reinforced composite plates

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This paper investigates the linear free vibration and nonlinear transient response of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced composite plates subjected to pre-existent compressive load in thermal environments. CNTs are reinforced into matrix according to uniform and functionally graded distributions. The properties of constitutive materials are assumed to be temperature-dependent while the effective properties of nanocomposite are determined using an extended rule of mixture. Governing equations are established within the framework of classical plate theory incorporating von Kármán nonlinearity and initial geometrical imperfection. Analytical solutions of deflection and stress function are assumed to satisfy simply supported boundary conditions, and Galerkin method is applied to obtain a time differential equation including both quadratic and cubic nonlinear terms. Fourth-order Runge–Kutta numerical integration scheme is employed to determine dynamical deflection-time response of nanocomposite plates. Numerical analyses are presented to consider the influences of CNT volume fraction, CNT distribution, initial compressive load, geometrical imperfection, elevated temperature and plate geometry on the natural frequencies and nonlinear dynamical response of nanocomposite plates. The study reveals that the natural frequency and dynamical deflection are strongly decreased and increased when initial compressive load is increased, respectively. Numerical results also find that the natural frequencies are enhanced and dynamical deflection is dropped as a result of increase in volume percentage of CNTs, respectively.