• Carbon letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 2009

The surface treatment effects of reinforcement filler were investigated based on the dynamic mechanical properties of mutiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/epoxy composites. The as-received MWCNTs(R-MWCNTs) were chemically modified by direct oxyfluorination method to improve the dispersibility and adhesiveness with epoxy resins in composite system. In order to investigate the induced functional groups on MWCNTs during oxyfluorination, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used. The thermo-mechanical property of MWCNTs/epoxy composite was also measured based on effects of oxyfluorination treatment of MWCNTs. The storage modulus of MWCNTs/epoxy composite was enhanced about 1.27 times through oxyfluorination of MWCNTs fillers at $25^{\circ}C$. The storage modulus of oxyfluorinated MWCNTs (OF73-MWCNTs) reinforced epoxy composite was much higher than that of R-MWCNTs/epoxy composite. It revealed that oxygen content led to the efficient carbon-fluorine covalent bonding during oxyfluorination. These functional groups on surface modified MWCNTs induced by oxyfluorination strikingly made an important role for the reinforced epoxy composite.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2020

In the present study, buckling analysis of sandwich composite (carbon nanotube reinforced composite and fiber reinforced composite) Euler-Bernoulli beam in two configurations (core and layers material), three laminates (combination of different angles) and two models (relative thickness of core according to peripheral layers) using differential quadrature method (DQM) is studied. Also, the effects of porosity coefficient and different types of porosity distribution on critical buckling load are discussed. Using sandwich beam, it shows a considerable enhancement in the critical buckling load when compared to ordinary composite. Actually, resistance against buckling in sandwich beam is between two to four times more. It is also showed the critical buckling loads of laminate 1 and 3 are significantly larger than the results of laminate 2. When Configuration 2 is used, the critical buckling load rises about 3 percent in laminate 1 and 3 compared to the results of configuration 1. The amount of enhancement for laminate 3 is about 17 percent. It is also demonstrated that the influence of the core height (thickness) in the case of lower carbon volume fractions is ignorable. Even though, when volume fraction of fiber increases, differences grow smoothly. It should be noticed the amount of decline has inverse relationship with the beam aspect ratio. Among three porosity patterns investigated, beam with the distribution of porosity Type 2 (downward parabolic) has the maximum critical buckling load. At the end, the first three modes of buckling will be demonstrated to investigate the effect of spring constants.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.319-332
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• 2018

This paper investigates the free vibration of geometrically imperfect functionally graded car-bon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams that are integrated with two sur-face-bonded piezoelectric layers and subjected to a combined action of a uniform temperature rise, a constant actuator voltage and an in-plane force. The material properties of FG-CNTRCs are assumed to be temperature-dependent and vary continuously across the thick-ness. A generic imperfection function is employed to simulate various possible imperfections with different shapes and locations in the beam. The governing equations that account for the influence of initial geometric imperfection are derived based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The postbuckling configurations of FG-CNTRC hybrid beams are determined by the differential quadrature method combined with the modified Newton-Raphson technique, after which the fundamental frequencies of hybrid beams in the postbuckled state are obtained by a standard eigenvalue algorithm. The effects of CNT distribution pattern and volume fraction, geometric imperfection, thermo-electro-mechanical load, as well as boundary condition are examined in detail through parametric studies. The results show that the fundamental frequency of an imperfect beam is higher than that of its perfect counterpart. The influence of geometric imperfection tends to be much more pronounced around the critical buckling temperature.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2023

This article investigates the energy harvesting characteristics of a magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) cantilever beam reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNT) under transverse vibration. To this end, the well-known lumped parameter model is used to represent the coupled multiphysics problem mathematically. The proposed system consists of the MEE-CNT layer on top and an inactive substrate layer at the bottom. The substrate is considered to be made of either an isotropic or composite material. Basic laws such as Gauss's Law, Newton's Law and Faraday's Law are used to arrive at the governing equations. Surface electrodes across the beam are used to harvest the electric potential produced, together with a wound coil, for the generated magnetic potential. The influence of various distributions of the CNT and its volume fraction, substrate material, length-to-thickness ratio, and thickness ratio of substrate to MEE layer on the energy harvesting behaviour is thoroughly discussed. Further, the effect of external resistances and changes in substrate material on the response is analysed and reported. The article aims to explore smart material-based energy harvesting systems, focusing on their behaviour when reinforced with carbon nanotubes. The results of this study may lead to an improved understanding of the design and analysis of CNT-based smart structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.407-416
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• 2024

The main objective of the present paper is to investigate the nonlinear vibration of buckled beams fixed at both ends and made of Aluminium allay (Al-alloy) reinforced with randomly dispersed Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWNT). The Mori-Tanak (M-T) micromechanical approach is selected to predict the homogenized material properties of the beams. The differential equation of motion governing the nonlinear behavior of the Euler-Bernoulli homogeneous beam is solved using an analytical method. The influences of diverse parameters including axial load, vibration amplitude, SWNT volume fraction, SWNT aspect ratio and beam slenderness ratio on the nonlinear frequency are studied.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-36
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• 2016

In the present study, the nonlinear magneto-electro-mechanical free vibration behavior of rectangular double-bonded sandwich microbeams based on the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) is investigated. It is noted that the top and bottom sandwich microbeams are considered with boron nitride nanotube reinforced composite face sheets (BNNTRC-SB) with electrical properties and carbon nanotube reinforced composite face sheets (CNTRC-SB) with magnetic fields, respectively, and also the homogenous core is used for both sandwich beams. The connections of every sandwich beam with its surrounding medium and also between them have been carried out by considering Pasternak foundations. To take size effect into account, the MSGT is introduced into the classical Timoshenko beam theory (CT) to develop a size-dependent beam model containing three additional material length scale parameters. For the CNTRC and BNNTRC face sheets of sandwich microbeams, uniform distribution (UD) and functionally graded (FG) distribution patterns of CNTs or BNNTs in four cases FG-X, FG-O, FG-A, and FG-V are employed. It is assumed that the material properties of face sheets for both sandwich beams are varied in the thickness direction and estimated through the extended rule of mixture. On the basis of the Hamilton's principle, the size-dependent nonlinear governing differential equations of motion and associated boundary conditions are derived and then discretized by using generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). A detailed parametric study is presented to indicate the influences of electric and magnetic fields, slenderness ratio, thickness ratio of both sandwich microbeams, thickness ratio of every sandwich microbeam, dimensionless three material length scale parameters, Winkler spring modulus and various distribution types of face sheets on the first two natural frequencies of double-bonded sandwich microbeams. Furthermore, a comparison between the various beam models on the basis of the CT, modified couple stress theory (MCST), and MSGT is performed. It is illustrated that the thickness ratio of sandwich microbeams plays an important role in the vibrational behavior of the double-bonded sandwich microstructures. Meanwhile, it is concluded that by increasing H/lm, the values of first two natural frequencies tend to decrease for all amounts of the Winkler spring modulus.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2021

This work focused on the novel numerical tool for the bending responses of carbon nanotube reinforced composites (CNTRC) beams. The higher order shear deformation beam theory (HSDT) is used to determine strain-displacement relationships. A new exponential function was introduced into the carbon nanotube (CNT) volume fraction equation to show the effect of the CNT distribution on the CNTRC beams through displacements and stresses. To determine the mechanical properties of CNTRCs, the rule of the mixture was employed by assuming that the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)are aligned and distributed in the matrix. The governing equations were derived by Hamilton's principle, and the mathematical models presented in this work are numerically provided to verify the accuracy of the present theory. The effects of aspect ratio (l/d), CNT volume fraction (Vcnt), and the order of exponent (n) on the displacement and stresses are presented and discussed in detail. Based on the analytical results. It turns out that the increase of the exponent degree (n) makes the X-beam stiffer and the exponential CNTs distribution plays an indispensable role to improve the mechanical properties of the CNTRC beams.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.447-476
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• 2024

The current research proposes an innovative finite element model established within the context of higher-order beam theory to examine the bending and buckling behaviors of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations. This two-node beam element includes four degrees of freedom per node and achieves inter-element continuity with both C¹ and C⁰ continuities for kinematic variables. The isoparametric coordinate system is implemented to generate the elementary stiffness and geometric matrices as a way to enhance the existing model formulation. The weak variational equilibrium equations are derived from the principle of virtual work. The mechanical properties of FG-CNTRC beams are considered to vary gradually and smoothly over the beam thickness. The current investigation highlights the influence of porosity dispersions through the beam cross-section, which is frequently omitted in previous studies. For this reason, this analysis offers an enhanced comprehension of the mechanical behavior of FG-CNTRC beams under various boundary conditions. Through the comparison of the current results with those published previously, the proposed finite element model demonstrates a high rate of efficiency and accuracy. The estimated results not only refine the precision in the mechanical analysis of FG-CNTRC beams but also offer a comprehensive conceptual model for analyzing the performance of porous composite structures. Moreover, the current results are crucial in various sectors that depend on structural integrity in specific environments.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.509-519
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• 2024

In this study, the static analysis of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (CNTRC) beams resting on a Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is presented. The developed theories account for higher-order variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the beam and satisfy the stress-free boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. To study the effect of carbon nanotubes distribution in functionally graded (FG-CNT), we introduce in the equation of CNT volume fraction a new exponent equation. The SWCNTs are assumed to be aligned and distributed in the polymeric matrix with different patterns of reinforcement. The rule of mixture is used to describe the material properties of the CNTRC beams. The governing equations were derived by employing Hamilton's principle. The models presented in this work are numerically provided to verify the accuracy of the present theory. The analytical solutions are presented, and the obtained results are compared with the existing solutions to verify the validity of the developed theories. Many parameters are investigated, such as the Pasternak shear modulus parameter, the Winkler modulus parameter, the volume fraction, and the order of the exponent in the volume fraction equation. New results obtained from bending and stresses are presented and discussed in detail. From the obtained results, it became clear the influence of the exponential CNTs distribution and Winkler-Pasternak model improved the mechanical properties of the CNTRC beams.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.771-781
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• 2018

This study deals with free vibrations analysis with stretching effect of nanocomposite beams reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) resting on an elastic foundation. Four different carbon nanotubes (CNTs) distributions including uniform and three types of functionally graded distributions of CNTs through the thickness are considered. The rule of mixture is used to describe the effective material properties of the nanocomposite beams. The significant feature of this model is that, in addition to including the shear deformation effect and stretching effect it deals with only 4 unknowns without including a shear correction factor. The governing equations are derived through using Hamilton's principle. Natural frequencies are obtained for nanocomposite beams. The mathematical models provided in this paper are numerically validated by comparison with some available results. New results of free vibration analyses of CNTRC beams based on the present theory with stretching effect is presented and discussed in details. The effects of different parameters of the beam on the vibration responses of CNTRC beam are discussed.