Thermal buckling analysis of embedded graphene-oxide powder-reinforced nanocomposite plates

Abstract

In this paper, thermal- buckling behavior of the functionally graded (FG) nanocomposite plates reinforced with graphene oxide powder (GOP) is studied under three types of thermal loading once the plate is supposed to be rested on a two-parameter elastic foundation. The effective material properties of the nanocomposite plate are considered to be graded continuously through the thickness according to the Halpin-Tsai micromechanical scheme. Four types of GOPs\' distribution namely uniform (U), X, V and O, are considered in a comparative way in order to find out the most efficient model of GOPs\' distribution for the purpose of improving the stability limit of the structure. The governing equations of the plate have been derived based on a refined higher-order shear deformation plate theory incorporated with Hamilton\'s principle and solved analytically via Navier\'s solution for a simply supported GOP reinforced (GOPR) nanocomposite plate. Some new results are obtained by applying different thermal loadings to the plate according to the GOPs\' negative coefficient of thermal expansion and considering both Winkler-type and Pasternak-type foundation models. Besides, detailed parametric studies have been carried out to reveal the influences of the different types of thermal loading, weight fraction of GOP, aspect and length-to-thickness ratios, distribution type, elastic foundation constants and so on, on the critical buckling load of nanocomposite plates. Moreover, the effects of thermal loadings with various types of temperature rise are investigated comparatively according to the graphical results. It is explicitly shown that the buckling behavior of an FG nanocomposite plate is significantly influenced by these effects.