Nonlinear buckling of orthogonal carbon nanotube-reinforced composite cylindrical shells under axial compression surrounded by elastic foundation in thermal environment

Abstract

Nonlinear buckling and postbuckling of orthogonal carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (Orthogonal CNTRC) cylindrical shells subjected to axial compression in thermal environments surrounded by elastic foundation are presented in this paper. Two layers of shell are reinforced by carbon nanotube (CNT) in two orthogonal directions (longitudinal and circumferential directions). Based on Donnell’s shell theory with von Karman’s nonlinearity and the Galerkin method, the governing equations are established to obtain the critical buckling loads and postbuckling load-deflection curves. The large effects of CNT volume fraction, temperature change, elastic foundation and geometrical parameters of cylindrical shells on the buckling load and postbuckling behavior of Orthogonal CNTRC cylindrical shells are obtained.