Small scale effect on hygro-thermo-mechanical bending of nanoplates embedded in an elastic medium

In this article, the small scale effect on the bending of nanoplates, such as graphene sheets, embedded in two-parameter elastic medium and subjected to hygro-thermo-mechanical loading is studied. The temperature field and moisture concentrations are assumed to be varied uniformly, linearly or nonlinearly through the thickness of the nanoplates. Based on the nonlocal continuum theory in conjunction with the refined sinusoidal shear deformation plate theory, the governing equations are derived including the hygro-thermal effects and the reaction between the plate and the elastic medium. The nonlocal mechanics account for the small size effects when dealing with nanosize elements. However, the refined sinusoidal shear deformation plate theory takes account the normal as well as shear deformation effects. A parametric study is carried out varying the small scale parameter, temperature, moisture concentration, elastic foundation parameters, plate aspect ratio and side-to-thickness ratio of the nanoplate with simply supported condition. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.