Vibrations of non-uniform functionally graded MWCNTs-polystyrene nanocomposite beams under action of moving load

Abstract

Free and forced vibrations of non-uniform functionally graded multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-polystyrene nanocomposite beams are investigated via Timoshenko beam theory. Different MWCNTs distributions in the thickness direction are introduced to improve fundamental natural frequency and dynamic behavior of non-uniform polymer composite beam under action of moving load. So, linear distribution patterns of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the thickness direction which can readily be achieved in practice are studied. The effects of shear deformation, rotary inertia, non-uniformity of the cross-section are also considered in the formulation. The finite element method is employed to obtain a numerical approximation of the motion equation. The non-uniform beam is approximated by another beam consisting of n elements with piecewise constant thickness so that the volume remains constant for each element. The effects of non-uniformity parameters, material distributions, velocity of the moving load and boundary conditions on the dynamic behavior are investigated. It is found that the symmetrical linear distribution of MWCNTs results in an increase in the fundamental natural frequency of nanocomposite beams which are higher than those of beams with uniform and unsymmetrical MWCNTs distributions.