Refined Plate Theory Research Articles

Free Vibration and Buckling Analyses of Functionally Graded Plates With Graphene Platelets Reinforcement

Abstract While existing research has focused on using graphene platelets (GPLs) as reinforcement for homogeneous matrices, this study proposes a new nanocomposite for plate structures consisting of GPLs incorporated into a conventional functionally graded matrix with the aim of enhancing their overall stiffness. The performance of such plates is evaluated via free vibration and buckling analyses in the present study. Note that the matrix phase is graded continuously with the power law distribution across the plate's thickness, whereas various GPL dispersion patterns along the thickness are studied. The material properties of the typical functionally graded matrix are determined by the rule of mixture, and then those of the composite are estimated by the modified Halpin–Tsai model as well as the rule of mixture. Based on Hamilton's principle and the novel four-unknown refined plate theory (RPT4), the governing equations of the plate are developed. The Navier-type solution scheme is then adopted to get the critical buckling load and natural frequency of the nanocomposite plate. Numerical findings are examined to evaluate the novel nanocomposite plate model, and a parametric study is also conducted. In addition, high-accurate results are provided via the Navier-type solution here as benchmark solutions for further studies on functionally graded material structures reinforced by GPLs.

Use of a Refined Theory for Three-Dimensional Bending Analysis of Isotropic Rectangular Thick Plates

In this paper, a refined plate theory (Alternative II theory) is presented for the three-dimensional bending analysis of an Isotropic thick plate. The theory has similarity to the first order shear deformation theory but requires no shear correction factors. The kinematics equations were developed based on the Alternative II Refined plate theory. Thereafter, using a complete three-dimensional constitutive relation, the total potential energy was developed. A governing equation and two compatibility equations were obtained by the variation of the total potential energy with respect to displacement and rotations respectively. Solving the governing and compatibility equations, a polynomial displacement function was obtained. The stiffness coefficients were then obtained using the displacement function. Thereafter, the equations for the in-plane normal and shear stresses, transverse normal and shear stresses as well as the lateral displacement were developed using the stiffness coefficients and the displacement function. Numerical values of the lateral displacement parameters were determined for a rectangular plate of aspect ratio 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 for span to thickness ratios of 20, 10 and 7.14286. Also, numerical values of the lateral displacement and stresses were determined for a square plate for span to thickness ratios of 4, 10, 100 and 1000. The results from this work were compared with the work of previous researchers using simple percentage difference. It was observed that refined plate theories overestimate the lateral displacement of a plate. Hence, three-dimensional analysis is recommended for thick plate analysis.

Free vibration analysis of bio-inspired helicoidal laminated composite square and annular plates having circular openings using isogeometric analysis

Present work aims to carry out free vibration analysis of bio-inspired helicoidal laminated composite square and annular-shaped plates with circular openings. Refined plate theory, created within the context of isogeometric analysis (IGA) is used during the present study. The theory is coded in MATLAB to study the behavior of the plates and the results are validated with the frequencies obtained using ABAQUS. Recursive, semi-circular, exponential, and Fibonacci helicoidal schemes are used during the present study for studying the free vibration behavior and the frequency is compared with the conventional cross-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates. Influence of position of opening, dimensions of opening, number of plies, and end condition, on the free vibration behavior of square and annular shaped bio-inspired helicoidal plates is carried out. The plates with CCCC and CCCF ends having openings at the quarter length are found to have higher frequency by 3.518 % and 0.3897 % compared to the values of the frequency of the plate with opening at the centre with the same perimeter. Opposite trend is observed for plate with PPPP, CFCF, and CFFF end conditions, where the plate with opening at centre exhibits higher value of the frequency by 2.427 %, 0.821 %, and 1.232 %, respectively. When the opening is near to the corners, the decrease in frequency by 3.913 %, 1.576 %, 1.193 %, and 1.437 % is observed for CCCC, CCFF, CCCF, and CFCF end conditions while increase by 1.490 % and 2.717 % is observed for the CFFF and PPPP end conditions. The mode shape of the plate is found to be greatly influenced by the position and dimension of the hole and end conditions of the plate.

The free vibration of the MEE sandwich microplate with the FG-CNTRC core using the MSGT

This study deals with the free vibration of the sandwich microplate with the core made of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) and magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) face sheets. The governing equation of the microplates is derived by using the refined plate theory (RPT) with two variables and the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT). The Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) basis function of the isogeometric approach (IGA) is used for the approximation of the displacement and electric and magnetic fields of the microplates. The paper studies the effect of the length scale parameters (LSPs), CNTs distributions, CNTs volume fraction, magnetic and electric loads and geometry on the vibrational frequency of the MEE sandwich microplate.

Analysis of bi-directional functionally graded plate on an elastic foundation subjected to low velocity impact using the refined plate theory

This study investigates the mechanical response of a bi-directional functionally graded plate consisting of three distinct materials when subjected to low-velocity impact. Utilizing the New Refined Plate Theory, the research explores the mechanical behavior of the plate resting on a Pasternak elastic foundation, providing insights useful for engineering applications. The investigation examines various parameters, including initial impact velocity, projectile radius, volume fraction indices, and elastic foundation stiffness, and their effects on critical response characteristics such as contact force, indentation, lateral deflection, and projectile velocity. The theoretical predictions are validated through detailed comparisons with existing literature and numerical simulations, ensuring the reliability and applicability of the proposed methodology. This study introduces a novel approach using refined plate theory to analyze low-velocity impact on 2D-FGMs, providing practical insights for structural analysis. The findings deepen understanding of functionally graded materials and enhance the evaluation of impact-resistant structures. The research highlights the importance of diverse parameters in improving structural performance and reliability, relevant across aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering. Detailed exploration shows that initial impact velocities and projectile radius enhance impact force and deflection, while volume fraction indices and foundation stiffness influence the dynamic response.

Free Vibration of the Magneto-Electro-Elastic Plates Resting on Elastic Foundation Using the Refined Plate Theory with Two Variables

The objective of this article is to investigate the free vibration analyses of the functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic (FG MEE) plates supported by an elastic foundation using the refined plate theory (RPT) with two variables. The elastic foundation is modeled utilizing the Winkler-Pasternak theory. The power-law model is employed to characterize the graded material properties of the FG MEE plates. According to the RPT and Hamilton's principle, the governing equations of the FG MEE plate are derived. The displacement fields and electric and magnetic potentials are approximated using the Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) basic functions of the isogeometric approach (IGA). The proposed model’s advantages and accuracy are demonstrated by comparing the obtained results with those reported in the existing literature. The study comprehensively examines and discusses the impact of several parameters, including the power index, initial external magnetic potential and electric voltage, and the geometry, on the vibration frequency of the FG MEE plates. The numerical findings indicate that an increase in the power index leads to a decrease in the frequency of the FG MEE plates. Besides, the stiffness of FG MEE plates decreases with an increase in the initial external electric voltage, whereas it increases with an increase in the initial external magnetic potential. This article presents valuable perspectives on examining vibration analysis of the FG MEE plates, which can inform the design of innovative materials and structures with customized properties.

Nonlinear thermal-mechanical coupled isogeometric analysis for GPLs reinforced functionally graded porous plates

This work presents an isogeometric model for thermal-mechanical coupled analysis of geometrically nonlinear responses of graphene platelets reinforced functionally graded porous (GPLs-FGP) plates. The closed-cell Gaussian random field (GRF) scheme, Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model and rule of mixture are utilized to determine the material properties of GPLs-FGP plates with three types of porosity distribution and GPLs dispersion pattern. Unlike previous studies, the influences of GPLs and porosity on the thermal conductivity of GPLs-FGP plates are considered simultaneously. A geometrically nonlinear isogeometric analysis (IGA) model is developed base on a four-variable refined plate theory (RPT), using the von Kármán nonlinear theory, Hamilton’s principle and Total Lagrangian (TL) incremental scheme. After ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the present model through comparison with several examples, the thermal conductivity, temperature distribution, geometrically nonlinear static bending and transient responses of the plate, taking into account the temperature effects of porosity and graphene under thermal-mechanical loads are investigated. Numerical results show that porosity exerts influences on the thermal conductivity and temperature distribution of GPLs-FGP plates, which subsequently impact their geometrically nonlinear thermal-mechanical coupled responses. The results of this study are helpful for designing and manufacturing GPLs-FGP structures with improved performance.

Alternative II Theory Solution for a Thick Rectangular Anisotropic Plate Under in-Plane and Lateral Loads

This work investigated the application of the Alternative II refined plate theory in the analysis of an anisotropic plate subjected to in-plane and lateral loads. The kinematic equations developed from the Alternative II Refined plate theory were used together with a complete three-dimensional constitutive relation to obtain the total potential energy of an anisotropic plate under lateral and in-plane loads. General variation of the total potential energy was done, a governing equation and two compatibility equations were obtained. A polynomial displacement function was obtained by solving the governing and compatibility equations. This was used to obtain peculiar displacement functions by satisfying the boundary conditions of any plate. The stiffness coefficients were obtained using the displacement function. With the displacement functions and the stiffness coefficients, the equations for the in-plane normal and shear stresses as well as the transverse normal and shear stresses were determined for any applied lateral load when the applied in-plane load is a fraction of the buckling load. Also, the equations for the displacements of the plate were determined. Numerical values of the stresses and displacement parameters were determined for span to thickness ratios of 5, 10, 20 and 100 at angle of fiber orientations of 0 and aspect ratios of 1, 1.5 and 2.0 when the ratio of applied in-plane load to buckling load are 0, 0.25 and 0.5. Using simple percentage difference, the results from this work were compared with the works of previous researchers.

Isogeometric free vibration of functionally graded porous magneto-electro-elastic plate reinforced with graphene platelets resting on an elastic foundation

This article investigates the free vibration behavior of functionally graded porous reinforced with graphene platelets magneto-electro-elastic (FGP-GPL-MEE) plates. The FGP-GPL-MEE plate is supported by the Winkler-Pasternak foundation and subjected to the initial external electric voltage and magnetic loads. The governing equations for FGP-GPL-MEE plates are derived from the combination of Hamilton's principle and the refined plate theory (RPT) with four variables. The FGP-GPL-MEE plate is formed by combining three porosity distributions of functionally graded materials and three patterns of graphene platelets dispersion distributed along the plate thickness. Using the modified Halpin-Tsai model, effective material properties of the FGP-GPL-MEE plate are estimated. Isogeometric approach (IGA) is used to discretize the plate geometry and extract mode shapes and natural frequencies. The effects of various parameters such as porosity distributions, porosity coefficient, GPLs distributions and magnetic and electric potentials on the natural frequencies of the FGP-GPL-MEE plate are performed. The results indicate that the GPLs reinforcement can be significantly enhanced the natural frequencies of the FGP-GPL-MEE plate. Moreover, the free vibration behavior is significantly influenced by porosity, as well as magnetic and electric fields. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the vibrational characteristics of FGP-GPL-MEE plates.

Electro-mechanical vibration characteristics of imperfect sandwich FG piezoelectric honeycomb nanoplates resting on Kerr foundation

This study presents an innovative analytical approach to examine the electro-mechanical vibration characteristics of sandwich nanoplates featuring a honeycomb core and two surface layers composed of imperfect piezoelectric functionally graded (FG) material, incorporating porosities, atop a Kerr elastic foundation. Utilizing nonlocal elasticity theory and four-variable refined plate theory (HSDT-4), we account for nanoscale effects and model the electric potential variation across the piezoelectric layer thickness as a combination of cosine and linear variations satisfying Maxwell's equation. The proposed method's novelty lies in its comprehensive analysis of the interplay between porosity, elastic foundation parameters, material properties, geometrical dimensions, external voltage, and nonlocal parameters on the free vibration frequency of these nanostructures. Numerical simulations validate the model's reliability and assess the significant impacts of these factors. Our findings contribute to the optimization of nanostructural designs for advanced engineering applications, highlighting the method's added value in predicting the behavior of imperfect piezoelectric FG honeycomb nanoplates.

A simple refined plate theory for buckling problems of in-plane bi-directional functionally graded plates with porosity under various boundary conditions

In this article, a simple refined shear deformation theory that eliminates the use of a shear correction factor was presented for buckling analysis of in-plane bi-directional functionally graded (IBFG) porous plates under various boundary conditions. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in case of other shear deformation theories. Material properties of IBFG are assumed to vary continuously along with two different directions simultaneously, that is, the longitudinal and transversal ones, respectively. Governing equations and boundary conditions are derived. Analytical solutions were obtained for buckling analysis of (IBFG) porous plates. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed theory. The effects of material gradations, aspect ratios, and porosity on IBFG plate responses are examined in detail as well.

Nonlocal quasi-3d vibration/ analysis of three-layer nanoplate surrounded by Orthotropic Visco-Pasternak foundation by considering surface effects and neutral surface concept

The present article deals with the application of refined plate theory and surface effects to investigate the nonlocal free vibration behavior of a functionally graded nano-plate composed of two piezoelectric face sheets resting on Orthotropic Visco-Pasternak. Surface and nonlocal effects are applied using the surface piezoelectricity and stress-strain gradient theories. Surface effects, refined quasi-3D higher-order theory, neutral surface position and in-plane mechanical preloads are considered to study piezoelectric sandwich nano-plate with a functionally graded core in this study for the first time, simultaneously. The size-dependent governing equations are derived based on 2D and 3D refined theory using Hamilton’s principle and different boundary conditions are studied and investigated according to the semi-analytical solution method. Comparing the results of the vibration behavior of 2D and quasi-3D models, local and non-local models, and also, examining different foundations simultaneously can be said as one of the innovations of the current research. Finally, a parametric study is presented to examine the effects of different parameters such as surface effects, small scale parameters, mechanical preloads, thickness stretching effects, neutral surface position, non-homogeneous coefficient, applied voltage, different foundation constants, boundary conditions, geometrical ratios and different theories in details. It is indicated that the inclusion of surface effects and thickness stretching effects leads to a significant influence on the vibration behavior of three-layered nano-scale plates. The presented results in this article may provide useful guidance for the design and development of the next generation of nano-devices.

Three-dimensional active-control hygrothermal dynamic behavior of PFMLs structure subjected to laser heat treatment with dual-ellipse distribution form

Based on three-dimensional transient thermal conduction theory, the refined plate theory and Hamilton variational principle, the constitutive equations, geometrical equations, and governing equations for fiber metal laminates with piezoelectric layer (PFMLs) under hygrothermal environment is presented. Subsequently, the Newmark method and Galerkin method are used to solve the governing equations which in terms of displacement functions. The results show that electric potential function, fiber orientation, external load as well as thickness ratio have great influence on the deflection as well as normal stress. The selection of (45°/0°) fiber orientation is more resistance to deformation and normal stress.

A refined fractional viscoelastic model for vibration analysis of moderately-thick plates

In this study, a Kelvin–Voigt fractional viscoelastic model is developed based on the two-variable refined plate theory (TV-RPT) to investigate the dynamic behavior of rectangular viscoelastic plates under support movement. The TV-RPT is a novel, simple, and efficient plate theory that provides accurate results for both thin and thick plates. The steady-state condition is governed by assuming the lower limit of the integral in the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative to be negative infinity. After deriving the governing equation, an analytical solution based on the Navier method is employed for fully simply-supported viscoelastic plates. The proposed approach is validated by comparing the natural frequencies of viscoelastic and elastic plates with existing results in the literature. Additionally, the results obtained from TV-RPT and the classical plate theory (CPT) are compared. It is observed that both theories provide similar results for thin plates. However, for thicker plates, the amplitude and frequency of vibrations for TV-RPT are smaller and larger than those for CPT, respectively. The study also investigates the effects of fractional derivative order and damping coefficient on the frequency and amplitude of vibration.

Buckling analysis of rectangular plates composed of functionally graded materials subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compression loading

In this article, we investigate the buckling analysis of plates that are made of functionally graded materials (FGMs). Using a four-variable refined plate theory, both a variation of the transverse shear strains across the thickness and the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate are satisfied without using shear correction factors. Governing equations are obtained from the principle of virtual works. The mechanical critical buckling exposed to different load conditions is determined. After such verifications, the effects of parameters such as the plate aspect ratio, side-to-thickness ratio and gradient index on the critical buckling are explained and illustrated. Numerical examples of the buckling analysis of functionally graded plates demonstrate the accuracy of the present theory.

Buckling analysis of composite plates surface bonded with graphene‐reinforced piezoelectric actuators

AbstractGraphene is a highly conductive and exceptional material that has shown potential for significantly improving the piezoelectric and mechanical properties of piezoelectric matrix. This paper examines the stability of composite plates surface bonded with graphene‐reinforced composite piezoelectric (GRCP) actuators. However, the significant differences in material characteristics at the interfaces will pose some challenges in analyzing the buckling behavior of piezoelectric composite plates by means of existing higher‐order shear deformation theories. To address this issue, a refined plate theory is developed for the buckling analysis of piezoelectric composite plates. The developed theory includes a new interlaminar shear stress field that precisely describes the distribution of interlaminar shear stresses, which differs from earlier higher‐order theories. It should be emphasized that the finite element formulation can be simplified by removing the second‐order derivatives of in‐plane displacement parameters from interlaminar shear stresses. In terms of the developed theory, a four‐node C0 quadrilateral plate element is introduced to examine the buckling behavior of piezoelectric composite plates. Furthermore, the modified interlaminar shear stress field is absorbed into the strain energy, significantly improving the ability to predict the critical loads of composite plates with GRCP actuators. The refined plate model is evaluated through the utilization of three‐dimensional (3D) elasticity solutions and results obtained from other associated theories. Numerical results demonstrate that the refined plate model is capable of producing favorable results, and a comprehensive examination is conducted to analyze the effects of significant parameters on the buckling behaviors of piezoelectric composite plates. This study sets a solid foundation for future research and development on the application of graphene‐reinforced composite piezoelectric actuators in composite structures.Highlights Buckling analysis of composite plates with GRCP actuators is conducted. A refined plate theory with modified interlaminar shear stresses is developed. The ability to predict critical loads can be significantly improved. The finite element formulation can be simplified based on the proposed model. Comprehensive parametric studies on buckling behavior are caried out.

Isogeometric vibration of the magneto-electro-elastic sandwich plate with functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite core

This paper investigates the free vibration analysis of the magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) sandwich plates with functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) core using isogeometric approach (IGA). The sandwich plate is composed of the homogeneous MEE face sheets and FG-CNTRC core with four types of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) distribution, including CNT-UD, CNT-O, CNT-V and CNT-X. The external electric voltage and magnetic potential are applied in the top and bottom layers of the MEE sandwich plate. Employing the refined plate theory (RPT) and Hamilton principle, the governing equation for free vibration of the MEE sandwich plate is derived. The IGA employs Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) basic functions to approximate the displacement fields and the magnetic and electric potentials in the RPT model. The study examines and discusses the impact of different factors on the frequency of the MEE sandwich plate, including parameters like CNTs distributions, CNTs volume fraction, external electric voltage and magnetic potential, and the geometrical parameter of the plate. This research has revealed several important discoveries regarding the fabrication of MEE sandwich structures.

Nonlinear free vibration of bi-directional functionally graded porous plates

Understanding the nonlinear behavior of advanced engineering structures is of great importance in supporting the analysis, design, and manufacturing processes. The primary objective of this paper, therefore, is to focus on exploring the nonlinear free vibrational characteristics of bi-directional functionally graded (FG) plates considering internal pores under various conditions. To accomplish this, we present an approximate numerical model derived based on the framework of NURBS-based isogeometric analysis (IGA), in conjunction with four-variable refined plate theory (RPT) and the von Kármán assumption, to reckon the displacement field. The mechanical properties of bi-directional FG plate models can smoothly and continuously vary along two in-plane directions according to a power law. Additionally, it is assumed that internal porosities in the matrix materials can be dispersed into two independent patterns, either the even or uneven porosity distributions. The nonlinearity in free vibration, assessed by means of the nonlinear-to-linear frequency ratio related to the central deflection amplitude, can be obtained using an iterative scheme with a displacement control strategy. The accuracy and effectiveness of the current numerical model are demonstrated through a comparison with existing solutions. Comprehensive parametric investigations are subsequently carried out to provide insight into the impact of various factors on the nonlinear free vibration characteristics of plate structures under different conditions. The new insights obtained from this research could serve as valuable benchmark outcomes as well as contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the nonlinear responses in future analysis and design processes.

Isogeometric bending and free vibration analyses of carbon nanotube-reinforced magneto-electric-elastic microplates using a four variable refined plate theory

The classical continuum mechanics theory is inadequate for modeling the mechanical responses of the microstructures due to its failure to account for size effects. Instead, modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) is considered as one of the most accurate theories due to its ability to adjust three length scale parameters (LSPs). Isogeometric approach (IGA) is a computational technique that is capable of accurately solving complex problems. For those reasons, the size-dependent analysis of carbon nanotube-reinforced magneto-electric-elastic microplates based on the MSGT are firstly proposed. The present approach uses the refined plate theory (RPT) with four variables, the MSGT and IGA. The magnetic and electric potentials are assumed to be a combination of a half-cosine and linear variation to satisfy Maxwell’s equations. Different types of functionally graded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) including UD, FG-X, FG-O and FG-V are reinforced in the magneto-electric-elastic matrix of the microplates. Governing equations are derived using the extended virtual work principle and then solved by IGA to determine the deflection and natural frequency of the microplates. The influence of the LSPs, CNT distributions, CNT’s volume fraction, matrix’s volume fraction, magnetic potential, electric voltage and geometry on the deflection and natural frequency of the microplates are studied and discussed.

Buckling analysis of plates using an efficient sinusoidal shear deformation theory

Mechanical buckling response of isotropic and orthotropic plates using the two variable refined plate theory is presented in this paper. The theory takes account of transverse shear effects and parabolic distribution of the transverse shear strains through the thickness of the plate; hence it is unnecessary to use shear correction factors. Governing equations are derived from the principle of virtual displacements. The nonlinear strain-displacement of Von Karman relations are also taken into consideration. The closed-form solution of a simply supported rectangular plate subjected to in-plane loading has been obtained by using the Navier method. Numerical results are presented for the present efficient sinusoidal shear deformation theory, demonstrating its importance and accuracy in comparison to other theories.