Stress and buckling analysis of a thick-walled micro sandwich panel with a flexible foam core and carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) face sheets

Abstract

In this paper, the stresses and buckling behaviors of a thick-walled micro sandwich panel with a flexible foam core and carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) face sheets are considered based on the high-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and the modified couple stress theory (MCST). The governing equations of equilibrium are obtained based on the total potential energy principle. The effects of various parameters such as the aspect ratio, elastic foundation, temperature changes, and volume fraction of the canbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the critical buckling loads, normal stress, shear stress, and deflection of the thick-walled micro cylindrical sandwich panel considering different distributions of CNTs are examined. The results are compared and validated with other studies, and showing an excellent compatibility. CNTs have become very useful and common candidates in sandwich structures, and they have been extensively used in many applications including nanotechnology, aerospace, and micro-structures. This paper also extends further applications of reinforced sandwich panels by providing the modified equations and formulae.