Post-buckling behaviour of carbon-nanotube-reinforced nanocomposite plate

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of nanocomposite plate having randomly oriented carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced in magnesium (Mg) under uni-axial compression. The effect of non-bonded interaction at the interface between CNT and matrix is considered through a cohesive zone model, used to predict the elastic property of the interphase, while evaluating the elastic properties of the nanocomposite using a representative volume element. A special purpose program based on finite-element formulation is developed to study the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of nanocomposite plate. The formulation is based on first-order shear deformation theory in conjunction with geometrical non-linearity as per von Karman’s assumptions. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of interphase between CNT and matrix, short-CNT and long-CNT reinforcements and boundary conditions on buckling and post-buckling response of nanocomposite plate. It is found that imperfect bonding between CNT and Mg results in the loss of buckling and post-buckling strength, as compared with perfect bonding, of CNT–Mg nanocomposite plate. It is also concluded that buckling and post-buckling strength is higher for long-CNT-reinforced nanocomposite plate than that of short-CNT reinforcement, irrespective of bonding between CNT and matrix material.