• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.623-649
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• 2016

Most of the early studies on plates vibration are focused on two-dimensional theories, these theories reduce the dimensions of problems from three to two by introducing some assumptions in mathematical modeling leading to simpler expressions and derivation of solutions. However, these simplifications inherently bring errors and therefore may lead to unreliable results for relatively thick plates. The main objective of this research paper is to present 3-D elasticity solution for free vibration analysis of continuously graded carbon nanotube-reinforced (CGCNTR) rectangular plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations. The volume fractions of oriented, straight single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction. In this study, an equivalent continuum model based on the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach is employed to estimate the effective constitutive law of the elastic isotropic medium (matrix) with oriented, straight carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The proposed rectangular plates have two opposite edges simply supported, while all possible combinations of free, simply supported and clamped boundary conditions are applied to the other two edges. The formulations are based on the three-dimensional elasticity theory. A semi-analytical approach composed of differential quadrature method (DQM) and series solution is adopted to solve the equations of motion. The fast rate of convergence of the method is demonstrated and comparison studies are carried out to establish its very high accuracy and versatility. The 2-D differential quadrature method as an efficient and accurate numerical tool is used to discretize the governing equations and to implement the boundary conditions. The convergence of the method is demonstrated and to validate the results, comparisons are made between the present results and results reported by well-known references for special cases treated before, have confirmed accuracy and efficiency of the present approach. The novelty of the present work is to exploit Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach in order to reveal the impacts of the volume fractions of oriented CNTs, different CNTs distributions, various coefficients of foundation and different combinations of free, simply supported and clamped boundary conditions on the vibrational characteristics of CGCNTR rectangular plates. The new results can be used as benchmark solutions for future researches.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제20권9호
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• pp.478-482
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• 2010

A series of molecular dynamic (MD), finite element (FE) and ab initio simulations are carried out to establish suitable modeling schemes for the continuum-based analysis of aluminum matrix nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). From a comparison of the MD with FE models and inferences based on bond structures and electron distributions, we propose that the effective thickness of a CNT wall for its continuum representation should be related to the graphitic inter-planar spacing of 3.4${\AA}$. We also show that shell element representation of a CNT structure in the FE models properly simulated the carbon-carbon covalent bonding and long-range interactions in terms of the load-displacement behaviors. Estimation of the effective interfacial elastic properties by ab initio simulations showed that the in-plane interfacial bond strength is negligibly weaker than the normal counterpart due to the nature of the weak secondary bonding at the CNT-Al interface. Therefore, we suggest that a third-phase solid element representation of the CNT-Al interface in nanocomposites is not physically meaningful and that spring or bar element representation of the weak interfacial bonding would be more appropriate as in the cases of polymer matrix counterparts. The possibility of treating the interface as a simply contacted phase boundary is also discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.253-258
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• 2020

Vibration response in a sandwich plate with a nanocompiste core covered by magnetic layer is presented. The core is armed by functionalyy graded-carbon nanotubes (FG-CNTs) where the Mori-Tanaka law is utilized assuming agglomeration effects. The structure plate is located on elastic medium simulated by Pasternak model. The governing equations are derived based on Mindlin theory and Hamilton's principle. Utilizing diffrential quadrature method (DQM), the frequency of the structure is calculated and the effects of magnetic layer, volume percent and agglomeration of CNTs, elastic medium and geometrical parameters of structure are shown on the frequency of system. Results indicate that with considering magnetic layer, the frequency of structure is increased.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.405-422
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• 2018

In this research, experimental tensile test and manufacturing of carbon nanotube reinforced composite beam (CNTRC) is presented. Also, bending, buckling, and vibration analysis of CNTRC based on various beam theories such as Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko and Reddy beams are considered. At first, the experimental tensile tests are carried out for CNTRC and composite beams in order to obtain mechanical properties and then using Hamilton's principle the governing equations of motion are derived for Euler Bernoulli, Timoshenko and Reddy theories. The results have a good agreement with the obtained results by similar researches and it is shown that adding just two percent of carbon nanotubes increases dimensionless fundamental frequency and critical buckling load as well as decreases transverse deflection of composite beams. Also, the influences of different manufacturing processes such as hand layup and industrial methods using vacuum pump on composite properties are investigated. In these composite beams, glass fibers used in an epoxy matrix and for producing CNTRC, CNTs are applied as reinforcement particles. Applying two percent of CNTs leads to increase the mechanical properties and increases natural frequencies and critical buckling load and decreases deflection. The obtained natural frequencies and critical buckling load by theoretical method are higher than other methods, because there are some inevitable errors in industrial and hand layup method. Also, the minimum deflection occurs for theoretical methods, in bending analysis. In this study, Young's and shear modulli as well as density are obtained by experimental test and have not been used from the results of other researches. Then the theoretical analysis such as bending, buckling and vibration are considered by using the obtained mechanical properties of this research.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.533-545
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• 2021

What is desirable in engineering is to bring the engineering model as close to reality as possible while the simplicity of model is also considered. In recent years, several studies have been performed on nanocomposites but some of these studies are somewhat far from reality. For example, in many of these studies, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are assumed completely straight, flawless and uniformly distributed throughout the matrix but by studying nanocomposites, we find that this is not the case. In this paper, three steps have been taken to bring the presented models for nanocomposites closer to reality. One is that assuming the straightness of nanotubes is removed and the waviness is considered. Also, the nanotubes are not considered to be pristine and the influence of defect is included in accordance with reality. In addition, the approximation of uniform distribution of nanotubes is ignored and according to experimental observations, the effect of nanotube aggregation is considered. As far as we know, this is the first study on these three topics together in an article. Moreover, we also include the size effects in our models for nanocomposites. To show the accuracy of our models, our results are calibrated with experimental results and compared with theoretical model. For numerical examples, we present the buckling behaviors of nanocomposites including the size effects using nonlocal theory and compare the results of our models with the results of models with above-mentioned approximations.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.135-148
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• 2020

The incorporation of carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix makes it possible to obtain nanocomposite materials with exceptional properties. It's in this scientific background that this work was based. There are several theories that deal with the behavior of plates, in this research based on the Mindlin-Reissner theory that takes into account the transversal shear effect, for analysis of the critical buckling load of a reinforced polymer plate with parabolic distribution of carbon nanotubes. The equations of the model are derived and the critical loads of linear and parabolic distribution of carbon nanotubes are obtained. With different disposition of nanotubes of carbon in the polymer matrix, the effects of different parameters such as the volume fractions, the plate geometric ratios and the number of modes on the critical load buckling are analysed and discussed. The results show that the critical buckling load of parabolic distribution is larger than the linear distribution. This variation is attributed to the concentration of reinforcement (CNTs) at the top and bottom faces for the X-CNT type which make the plate more rigid against buckling.