Thermo-mechanical buckling analysis of FG-GNPs reinforced composites sandwich microplates using a trigonometric four-variable shear deformation theory

Abstract

The current study is aimed to investigate the thermo-mechanical buckling responses of the sandwich microplate with Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-reinforced Epoxy core fully bonded to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)-reinforced piezoelectric patches. The face sheets were exposed to the electric field and the microplate was assumed to locate on the Pasternak elastic substrate. The GNPs and SWCNTs were dispersed throughout the core and face thickness according to some specific functions. To consider the shear deformation effect, tangential shear deformation theory (TSDT), as a trigonometric higher-order theory, was used. The size effects were also included through applying and the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT). The virtual displacement principle was utilized to derive the governing equations and then by employing an analytical method, they were solved. The validity of the results was confirmed by comparing the results for simpler state with previously published ones. A parametric study is provided to observe behavior of the microstructure in different conditions. It was observed that GNPs and CNTs dispersion patterns play an important role in the microplate buckling behavior, as well as temperature variations. The outcomes of this work may help to manufacture more efficient engineering smart structures, such as micro/nanoelectromechanical systems.

Keywords

• Buckling analysis
• Graphene nanoplatelets
• Carbon nanotubes
• Sandwich structures
• Higher-order shear deformation theory
• Modified strain gradient theory