Stochastic nonlinear bending response of elastically supported nanotube-reinforced composite beam in thermal environment

Abstract

This paper presents the second-order statistics of the nonlinear bending response of elastically supported single-wall carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) beam composed of uniformly distributed (UD) and functionally graded (FG) reinforcements in thermal environments with uncertain system properties. The uncertain system properties such as material properties of matrix and SWCNTs, foundation parameters, thermal expansion coefficients are be modeled as uncorrelated Gaussian random variables. The material properties of FG-CNTRCs are assumed to be graded in the beam thickness direction and are evaluated through a micromechanical model. The higher order shear deformation theories (HSDT) with von-Karman nonlinear strain kinematics are used for the mathematical formulation of CNTRCs beam. The thermal effects are also included in the material properties of CNTRCs which are assumed to be temperature dependent and independent. The second-order perturbation technique (SOPT) and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) via [Formula: see text] nonlinear finite element method (FEM) through Newton–Raphason method are proposed to examine the mean, COV and probability density function (PDF) of transverse deflection of the beam. Typical numerical results are presented for the different volume fraction of carbon nanotube, slenderness ratios, boundary conditions, foundation parameters, load parameters, CNTRC distribution, temperature dependent and independent material properties with random system properties. The present outlined approach is validated with the results available in the literature and by employing MCS.