Thermomechanical postbuckling of higher order shear deformable CNT-reinforced composite plates with elastically restrained unloaded edges

Abstract

Buckling and postbuckling behavior of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced thick composite plates resting on elastic foundations and subjected to thermomechanical loads are investigated in this paper. The plates are subjected to uniform uniaxial compression in a thermal environment or the combined action of nondestabilizing preexisting uniaxial compression and uniform temperature rise. CNTs are reinforced into matrix through functionally graded distributions. The properties of constitutive materials are assumed to be temperature dependent and effective properties of CNT-reinforced composite are determined according to an extended rule of mixture. Governing equations are based on a higher order shear deformation theory taking von Kárman nonlinearity, initial geometrical imperfection, elasticity of tangential restraints of unloaded edges and plate-foundation interaction into consideration. Analytical solutions are assumed to satisfy simply supported boundary conditions and Galerkin method is applied to obtain nonlinear load-deflection relations. Numerical analyses are carried out to show the effects of CNT distribution patterns, preexisting loads, initial imperfection, degree of in-plane constraint, and elastic foundations on the nonlinear thermomechanical stability of CNT-reinforced composite plates.