Post-buckling behavior of functionally graded and carbon-nanotubes based structures with different mechanical loadings

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the post-buckling behavior of plates and cylindrical panels made of functionally graded materials (FGM) and carbon-nanotubes reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) under mechanical loads. Unlike the other high order shear deformation theories, the proposed formulation is elaborated within a double directors finite shell element which allows a parabolic distribution of the transverse shear strains, guarantee the zero condition of the transverse shear stresses on the extreme surfaces of the shell and introduces large deformations and finite rotations through a non-linear framework. Newton-Raphson with arc length control solution strategy is used to resolve the equilibrium paths. A power-law distribution and the extended rule of mixture are used to determine the effective material properties of functionally graded materials and carbon-nanotubes reinforced composites. The effectiveness and the accuracy of the formulation is checked via several comparisons with published results in the literature. Especially, some complex post-buckling curves of FGM and FG-CNTRC curved panels and plates with different mechanical loadings are provided that could be useful for future references. The effects of various parameters are also reported.