Nonlinear eccentric low-velocity impact response of a polymer-carbon nanotube-fiber multiscale nanocomposite plate resting on elastic foundations in hygrothermal environments

In the present article, a nonlinear, eccentric, low-velocity impact response of a polymer-carbon nanotube-fiber multiscale nanocomposite plate on elastic foundations in hygrothermal conditions using the finite element method is performed. In this regard, the governing equations are derived based on higher-order shear deformation plate theory and von Kármán geometrical nonlinearity. Three types of distributions of the temperature field and moisture concentrations, namely, uniformly, linearly, or nonlinearly through the thickness direction of the plates are considered. The effective material properties of the multiphase nanocomposite are calculated using fiber micromechanics and Halpin–Tsai equations in hierarchy. The carbon nanotubes are assumed to be uniformly distributed and randomly oriented through the matrix. The contact force between the impactor and the plate is obtained with the aid of the modified nonlinear Hertzian contact law models. After examining the validity of the present work, the effects of the weight percentage of CNT, moisture concentration, temperature variations, distribution of temperature and moisture concentration, elastic foundation, and the eccentricity on the contact force, indentation, and central deflection of polymer-CNT-fiber multiscale nanocomposite plate are studied in details.