Large amplitude free vibration of nanotube-reinforced composite doubly curved panels resting on elastic foundations in thermal environments

Abstract

A large amplitude vibration analysis is presented for nanocomposite doubly curved panels resting on elastic foundations in thermal environments. The doubly curved nanocomposite panels are studied with the consideration of different types of distributions of uniaxial aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The material properties of the functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRCs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to linear distributions of the volume fraction of CNTs and are estimated through a micromechanical model. The motion equations are based on a higher order shear deformation theory and von Kármán strain-displacement relationships. The thermal effects are also included and the material properties of CNTRCs are assumed to be temperature-dependent. The motion equations are solved by a two-step perturbation approach to determine the nonlinear frequencies of the CNTRC doubly curved panel. The numerical illustrations cover small- and large-amplitude vibration characteristics of CNTRC doubly curved panels resting on Pasternak elastic foundations. The present solutions also highlight the effects of CNT volume fraction, temperature variation, foundation stiffness, panel curvature ratio as well as in-plane boundary conditions on the nonlinear free vibration behaviors of CNTRC doubly curved panels.