Isogeometric analysis of functionally graded CNT-reinforced composite plates based on refined plate theory

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - A simple and effective approach based on refined plate theory (RPT) is proposed to study the static and free vibration characteristics of functionally...     

Numerical study on crack propagation simulation in functionally graded materials by enriched natural element method

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Most of numerical studies on the crack propagation have dealt with homogeneous materials using FEM. In this context, the purpose of current study is...     

Thermally induced buckling of functionally graded hybrid composite plates

In this paper, thermal buckling analysis is performed on hybrid functionally graded plates (FGPs) with an arbitrary initial stress. The governing equations are derived using the average stress method, including the effect of transverse shear deformation. Then, an eigenvalue problem is formed to evaluate thermal buckling temperatures for simple supported initially stressed ceramic-FGM-metal plates. The effects of functionally graded material (FGM) layer thickness, volume fraction index, layer thickness ratio, thickness ratio, aspect ratio and initial stress on the thermal buckling temperature of hybrid FGPs are investigated. The results reveal that the volume fraction index, initial stresses and FGM layer thickness have significant influence on the thermal buckling of hybrid FGPs.     

Parametric study on nonlinear dynamic characteristics of functionally graded graphene nanoplatelets reinforced composite plates

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - The nonlinear dynamics of functionally graded graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) reinforced composite plates are studied based on the first-order shear...     

Free vibration analysis of functionally graded CNT-reinforced nanocomposite beam using Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach

This work deals with the effect of agglomeration and distribution of carbon nanotube on the free vibration characteristics of a functionally graded nanocomposite beams reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by employing an equivalent fiber based on the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach. Different SWCNTs distributions in the thickness directions are introduced to improve fundamental natural frequency of polymer composite beam. The micromechanics models used in the study include a two parameter model of agglomeration. An embedded carbon nanotube in a polymer matrix and its surrounding inter-phase is replaced with an equivalent fiber for predicting the mechanical properties of the carbon nanotube/polymer composite. The system of equations of motion is derived by using the principle of virtual work under the assumptions of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The finite element method is employed to obtain a numerical approximation of the motion equation. Numerical results are presented in both tabular and graphical forms to figure out the effects of nanotube agglomeration, CNTs distribution and boundary conditions on the dynamic characteristics of the beam. The above mentioned effects play very important role on the dynamic behavior of the beam.     

Dynamic propagation of a finite eccentric crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric ceramic strip

The dynamic propagation of an eccentric Griffith crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric ceramic strip under anti-plane shear is analyzed using the integral transform method. A constant velocity Yoffe-type moving crack is considered. Fourier transform is used to reduce the problem to a pair of dual integral equations, which is then expressed in a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. We assume that the properties of the functionally graded piezoelectric material vary continuously along the thickness. The impermeable crack boundary condition is adopted. Numerical values on the dynamic stress intensity factors are presented for the functionally graded piezoelectric material to show the dependence of the gradient of material properties, crack moving velocity, and eccentricity. The dynamic stress intensity factors of a moving crack in functionally graded piezoelectric material increases when the crack moving velocity, eccentricity of crack location, material property gradient, and crack length increase. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Hyeon Gyu Beom Jeong Woo Shin received a B.S. and M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea in 1998 and 2000, respectively. A major field of Mr. Shin is fracture mechanics. He is currently working on the KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) as a senior researcher. He conducted load analysis of fixed wing aircraft and full scale airframe static test at the KARI. He is now developing landing gear in the KHP (Korea Helicopter Program) as a performance engineer.     

Dynamic propagation of a weak-discontinuous interface crack between two dissimilar functionally graded layers under anti-plane shear

The dynamic propagation of an interface crack between two functionally graded material (FGM) layers under anti-plane shear is analyzed using the integral transform method. The properties of the FGM layers vary continuously along their thicknesses. The properties of the two FGM layers vary and the two layers are connected weak-discontinuously. A constant velocity Yoffe-type moving crack is considered. The Fourier transform is used to reduce the problem to a dual integral equation, which is then expressed to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Numerical values on the dynamic energy release rate (DERR) are presented for the FGM to show the effect of the gradient of material properties, crack moving velocity, and thickness of FGM layers. The following are helpful to increase resistance to interface crack propagation in FGMs: a) increasing the gradient of material properties, b) an increase of shear modulus and density from the interface to the upper and lower free surface, and c) increasing the thickness of the FGM layer. The DERR increases or decreases with increase of the crack moving velocity.     

Characteristics of a transiently propagating crack in functionally graded materials

When a crack propagates with acceleration, deceleration and time rates of change of stress intensity factors, it is very important for us to understand the effects of acceleration, deceleration and time rates of change of stress intensity factors on the individual stresses and displacements at the crack tip. Therefore, the crack tip stress and displacement fields for a transiently propagating crack along gradient in functionally graded materials (FGMs) with an exponential variation of shear modulus and density are developed and the characteristics of a transiently propagating crack from the fields are analyzed. The effects of the rate of change of the stress intensity factor and the crack tip acceleration on the individual stresses at the crack tip are opposite each other. Specially, the isochromatics (constant maximum shear stress) of Mode I tilt backward around the crack tip with an increase of crack tip acceleration, and tilt forward around the crack tip with an increase of the rate of change of the dynamic mode I stress intensity factor. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Chongdu Cho Kwang-Ho Lee received a Ph.D. degree in Yeungnam University in 1993. Dr. Lee is currently a professor at the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering at Kyungpook National University in Korea. He also had worked in KOMSCO as an engineer and researcher (1982.3–1996.2). He is interested in the fields of fracture and stress analysis on the composite, interface, nano and functionally graded materials by theoretical and experimental mechanics. Specially, his major interest is analysis of dynamic crack tip fields. Young-Jae Lee received his B.S degree in Agricultural Civil Engineering from Gyeongsang National University (GNU) in 1982. He then received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from GNU in 1984 and 1995, respectively. Dr. Lee is currently a professor at the department of Civil Engineering at Kyungpook National University in Korea. From 2005 to 2006, he had served as an editor of Korea Institute for Structure Maintenance and Inspection. His research interests are in the area of evaluation, diagnosis and optimum design of structure. Sang-Bong Cho received a Ph. D. degree from Tokyo University in 1989. Dr. Cho is currently a professor at the division of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at Kyungnam University in Korea. His research interests are in the area of fracture mechanics, FEM stress analysis and fretting fatigue.     

Thermal buckling of functionally graded rectangular plates subjected to partial heating

We present the thermal buckling analysis of functionally graded rectangular plates subjected to partial heating in a plane and uniform temperature rise through its thickness. The plate is simply supported for out-of-plane deformation and perfectly clamped for in-plane deformation. It is assumed that the functionally graded material properties such as the coefficient of linear thermal expansion and Young's modulus are changed individually in the thickness direction of the plate with the power law, while Poisson's ratio is assumed to be constant. Analytical developments consist of two stages. First, the nonuniform in-plane resultant forces are determined by solving a plane thermoelastic problem. Then the critical buckling temperatures of the plates with the predetermined resultant forces are calculated as the generalized eigenvalue problem which is constructed by using the Galerkin method. Finally, the effects of material inhomogeneity, aspect ratio, and heated region on the critical buckling temperatures are examined.     

Thermoelastic analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates with a homogeneous core

This paper is concerned with the thermoelastic analysis of functionally graded (FG) sandwich plates with a homogeneous core by a numerical method. The core layer is homogeneous ceramic while two facesheets are inhomogeneous metal-ceramic FGMs having the power-law volume fractions. The metal-ceramic FG sandwich plates are characterized by the relative thicknesses of three layers, the width-thickness and aspect ratios of plate, and the volume fractions of metal and ceramic. Meanwhile, the problem is formulated using the hierarchical models exhibiting the spectral model accuracy and implemented by 2-D natural element method (NEM). The hierarchical models are based upon the 3-D elasticity and NEM is applied to the mid-surface of plate to approximate the triple-vectored in-plane displacement field. The accuracy of hierarchical models are examined with respect to the model order, from which the (3, 3, 4) hierarchical model is chosen for the thermoelastic analysis. The thermoelastic responses obtained by the present method are compared with the existing analytic solutions, and those are parametrically investigated with respect to the above-mentioned design parameters. It is found that the present method shows a reasonable accuracy and the thermoelastic responses of FG sandwich plates are remarkably influenced by the design parameters.

     

Free vibration analysis of multi-directional functionally graded circular and annular plates

This paper addresses the free vibration of multi-directional functionally graded circular and annular plates using a semianalytical/ numerical method, called state space-based differential quadrature method. Three-dimensional elasticity equations are derived for multi-directional functionally graded plates and a solution is given by the semi-analytical/numerical method. This method gives an analytical solution along the thickness direction, using a state space method and a numerical solution using differential quadrature method. Some numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy and convergence of the method. The most of simulations of the present study have been validated by the existing literature. The non-dimensional frequencies and corresponding displacements mode shapes are obtained. Then the influences of thickness ratio and graded indexes are demonstrated on the non-dimensional natural frequencies.     

Thermomechanical postbuckling analysis of moderately thick functionally graded plates and shallow shells

In this paper, an analytical solution is provided for the postbuckling behaviour of moderately thick plates and shallow shells made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) under edge compressive loads and a temperature field. The material properties of the functionally graded shells are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the shell, according to a power law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. The fundamental equations for moderately thick rectangular shallow shells of FGM are obtained using the von Karman theory for large transverse deflection and high-order shear deformation theory for moderately thick plates. The solution is obtained in terms of mixed Fourier series and the obtained results are compared with those of the Reissner–Mindlin's theory for moderately thick plates and the classical theory ignoring transverse shear deformation. The effect of material properties, boundary conditions and thermomechanical loading on the buckling behaviour and the associated stress field are determined and discussed. The results reveal that thermomechanical coupling effects and the boundary conditions play a major role in dictating the response of the functionally graded plates and shells under the action of edge compressive loads.     

Investigating the thermal environment effects on geometrically nonlinear vibration of smart functionally graded plates

An analytical solution for a sandwich circular FGM plate coupled with piezoelectric layers under one-dimensional heat conduction is presented. All materials of the device may be of any functional gradients in the direction of thickness. The solution exactly satisfies all the equilibrium conditions and continuity conditions for the stress, displacement and electric displacement as well as electric potential on the interfaces between adjacency layers. A nonlinear static problem is solved first to determine the initial stress state and pre-vibration deformations of the FG plate that is subjected to in-plane forces and applied actuator voltage in thermal environment in the case of simply supported boundary conditions. By adding an incremental dynamic state to the pre-vibration state, the differential equations that govern the nonlinear vibration behavior of pre-stressed piezoelectric coupled FGM plates are derived. The role of thermal environment as well as control effects on nonlinear static deflections and natural frequencies imposed by the piezoelectric actuators using high input voltages are investigated. Numerical examples are provided and simulation results are discussed. Numerical results for FGM plates with a mixture of metal and ceramic are presented in dimensionless forms. The good agreement between the results of this paper and those of the finite element (FE) analyses validated the presented approach. In a parametric study the emphasis is placed on investigating the effect of varying the applied actuator voltage and thermal environment as well as gradient index of FG plate on the dynamics and control characteristics of the structure.     

Dynamic characteristics of an eccentric crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric ceramic strip

The dynamic response of an eccentric Griffith crack in functionally graded piezoelectric ceramic strip under anti-plane shear impact loading is analysed using integral transform method. Laplace transform and Fourier transform are used to reduce the problem to two pairs of dual integral equations, which are then expressed to Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. We assume that the properties of the functionally graded piezoelectric material vary continuously along the thickness. The impermeable crack boundary condition is adopted. Numerical values on the dynamic stress intensity factors are presented for the functionally graded piezoelectric material to show the dependence of the gradient of material properties and electric loadings.     

Dynamic response of an anti-plane shear crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric strip

The dynamic response of a cracked functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) under transient anti-plane shear mechanical and in-plane electrical loads is investigated in the present paper. It is assumed that the electroelastic material properties of the FGPM vary smoothly in the form of an exponential function along the thickness of the strip. The analysis is conducted on the basis of the unified (or natural) crack boundary condition which is related to the ellipsoidal crack parameters. By using the Laplace and Fourier transforms, the problem is reduced to the solutions of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. Numerical results for the stress intensity factor and crack sliding displacement are presented to show the influences of the elliptic crack parameters, the electric field, FGPM gradation, crack length, and electromechanical coupling coefficient.     

Influence of density variation on the arbitrarily propagating crack tip fields in functionally graded materials

The stress and displacement fields for an arbitrarily propagating crack tip in functionally graded materials (FGMs) with exponential variation of density and shear modulus are obtained. Nonhomogeneous parameters of density and shear modulus are different from each other. The solutions for higher order terms in the dynamic equilibriums are obtained by transforming the general differential equations to the scaled Laplace’s equations. Using the stress fields, the effects of the nonhomogeneous density on stress components is investigated. In addition, the contours of the constant maximum shear stress at a propagating crack tip are generated and the effects of the nonhomogeneous density on the isochromatics are discussed.     

Fabrication of transparent homogeneous functionally graded materials and crack analysis by photoelasticity

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - To analyze the stress of functionally graded materials (FGMs) through an experiment, transparent homogeneous FGMs (THFGMs) with similar theoretical...     

Buckling analysis of circular plates of functionally graded materials under uniform radial compression

This study presents the buckling analysis of radially loaded solid circular plate made of functionally graded material. The edge of the plate is either simply supported or clamped and the plate is assumed to be geometrically perfect. The equilibrium and stability equations, derived through variational formulation, are used to determine the prebuckling forces and critical buckling loads. The equations are based on Love–Kirchhoff hypothesis and the Sander's non-linear strain-displacement relation. The results are verified with the known results in the literature.     

Vibration amplitude and thermal effects on the nonlinear behavior of thin circular functionally graded plates

In this paper, the nonlinear free axisymmetric vibration of a thin circular functionally graded plate in thermal environment is formulated in terms of von-Karman's dynamic equations, and a semi-analytical approach is developed. The plate thickness is constant and the material properties of the functionally graded plate are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness, according to a power-law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. For harmonic vibrations, by using assumed-time-mode method and Kantorovich time averaging technique, governing equations are solved. The nonlinear frequencies and associated stresses are determined at large amplitudes of vibration. Effects of material compositions and thermal loads on the vibration characteristics and stresses are examined. The numerical results obtained here are compared with available published results, based on various approaches.     

Free vibration analysis of functionally graded plates with multiple circular and non-circular cutouts

Cutouts are inevitable in structures due to practical consideration.In order to investigate the free vibration of functionally graded plates with multiple circular and non-circular cutouts,finite eleme...