Electro-Thermo-Mechanical Vibration Analysis of a Foam-Core Smart Composite Cylindrical Shell Containing Fluid

In this study, free vibration of a foam-core orthotropic smart composite cylindrical shell (SCCS) filled with a non-viscous compressible fluid, subjected to combined electro-thermo-mechanical loads is investigated.  Piezoelectric polymeric cylindrical shell, is made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and reinforced by armchair double walled boron nitride nanotubes (DWBNNTs). Characteristics of the equivalent composite are determined using micro-electro-mechanical models. The poly ethylene (PE) foam-core is modeled based on Winkler and Pasternak foundations. Employing the charge equation for coupling electrical and mechanical fields, the problem is turned into an eigenvalue one, for which analytical frequency equations are derived considering free electrical and simply supported mechanical boundary conditions at circular surfaces at either ends of the cylindrical shell. The influence of electric potential generated, filled-fluid, orientation angle of DWBNNTs, foam-core and a few other parameters on the resonance frequency of SCCS are investigated. Results show that SCCS and consequently the generated Φ improve sensor and actuator applications in several process industries, because it not only increases the vibration frequency, but also extends economic viability of the smart structure.