Finite element model for carbon nanotube-reinforced and graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced composite beams

Abstract

This paper investigates bending, vibration and buckling analysis of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (CNTRC) and graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced composite (GPLRC) beams. Both normal and shear effects are included in the formulation of the governing equations of motion of the beams. Finite element model is employed to determine displacements, critical buckling loads and natural frequencies of the beams with different boundary conditions. Several important factors in parametric studies including distribution pattern, volume fraction of CNTs, GPL weight fraction, slenderness ratio, boundary condition, etc. are investigated. Some new results are given as benchmark for further validation.