Static and modal analysis of parabolic-boundary functionalized Carbon nanotube-reinforced composite plates using FEM

This paper investigates the effect of different methods of carbon nanotubes distribution in a thin matrix on static and dynamic behavior of the nanocomposite. Five different symmetric patterns of distribution are considered, including four parabolic patterns and a linear one. For each pattern, the effective mechanical properties of the resultant nanocomposite are calculated using the rule of mixture. Influence of geometric parameters on static and free vibration responses of the nanocomposite plate are studied. Finite element modeling is created using Abaqus/CAE. The resulting responses for linear distribution of nanotubes are compared to a past work and good agreement is observed between them. The finite element simulations showed that in all different cases of geometric parameters, the value of non-dimensional static deflection of the mid-point of plate under a uniformly distributed load is minimized in the linear distribution pattern of carbon nanotubes case and will increase by changing the pattern to a parabola. This fact is vice versa about modal analysis. Linear distribution pattern of carbon nanotubes results in higher natural frequencies in comparison with the parabolic distributions of carbon nanotubes.