Abstract
This paper explores the feasibility of using functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) in designing bistable plates. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in this nanocomposite are assumed to have a functionally graded distribution across the thickness direction following a power law. By varying the distribution type, volume fraction, and volume fraction exponent of SWCNTs, laminates with multiple thermal properties can be generated. A higher-order Rayleigh–Ritz model is presented to investigate the bistability and buckling behaviours of the proposed bistable plates. Their out-of-plane displacements and snap-through forces are predicted using this model. In the buckling analysis, transverse concentrated forces are applied to the panel corners to induce snap-through. To trace the load-displacement path during the loading process, the arc-length method is used to solve derived nonlinear equilibrium equations. The analytical results are compared using nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis for validation. A comprehensive parametric study is conducted to analyse the effects of curing temperature, distribution type, volume fractions, and volume fraction exponents of SWCNTs on the bistable behaviours of FG-CNTRC plates. It is found that, by varying these factors, bistable FG-CNTRC plates with multiple stable shapes and a wide range of snap-through forces can be generated. FG- CNTRC thus offers a rich design space for producing bistable plates.
Highlights
Bistable or multistable plates and shells have many potential applications in morphing structures and broadband energy harvesting and have attracted much research attention over the last few decades [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Because snap-through behaviour plays an important role in morphing applications, we adopt the arc-length method to determine the snapthrough load. e analytical model is less accurate in predicting out-of-plane displacement near the edges and snapthrough load; for this reason, a nonlinear finite element analysis is conducted for validation, using the commercial FE software package ABAQUS. e primary goal of this paper is to investigate the influence of functionally graded distribution types, the volume fractions, and volume fraction exponents of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the stable shapes and snap-through forces of FG-CNTRC plates
Poly(methyl methacrylate), referred to as PMMA, is selected as the matrix of the nanocomposite, and its material parameters are listed in Table 1 [31]. (10, 10) SWCNTs are used as reinforcement in the CNTRC, and its temperature-dependent material properties are predicted by molecular dynamics
Summary
Bistable or multistable plates and shells have many potential applications in morphing structures and broadband energy harvesting and have attracted much research attention over the last few decades [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Variable stiffness multistable laminates have recently been proposed that offer a rich design space for bistable structures [22,23,24,25]. Given that the anisotropic thermal properties of composite are dominated by the fibre distribution types and directions, it is possible to design bistable laminates using functionally graded (FG) materials. By combining CLPT with von Karman geometric nonlinearity and following Rayleigh–Ritz minimization of the total potential energy, a higher-order analytical model is introduced to investigate the bistability of [90/0]T FG-CNTRC laminate. E primary goal of this paper is to investigate the influence of functionally graded distribution types, the volume fractions, and volume fraction exponents of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the stable shapes and snap-through forces of FG-CNTRC plates Because snap-through behaviour plays an important role in morphing applications, we adopt the arc-length method to determine the snapthrough load. e analytical model is less accurate in predicting out-of-plane displacement near the edges and snapthrough load; for this reason, a nonlinear finite element analysis is conducted for validation, using the commercial FE software package ABAQUS. e primary goal of this paper is to investigate the influence of functionally graded distribution types, the volume fractions, and volume fraction exponents of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the stable shapes and snap-through forces of FG-CNTRC plates
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