Thermomechanical analysis of snap-buckling phenomenon in long FG-CNTRC cylindrical panels resting on nonlinear elastic foundation

Snap-buckling phenomenon in an infinitely long nanocomposite cylindrical panel subjected to uniformly distributed transverse pressure loading is analyzed in this research. It is assumed that the functionally graded (FG) carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) shell is resting on nonlinear elastic foundation. The uniform thermal field is also included into the formulation. Thermomechanical properties of the shell are assumed to be temperature dependent. The CNTs distribution pattern can be uniform or functionally graded through the shell thickness. The shell is formulated using a general high-order shear deformation theory. Governing equilibrium equations of the shell which undergoes thermal-mechanical coupling loading are established via the virtual displacement principle. To capture the large deflections, the von Karman type of kinematic assumptions is utilized. Two types of edge conditions are considered for the shell with infinite length which are immovable simply supported and clamped-clamped. To obtain the limit buckling load of the shell, the two-step perturbation technique and Galerkin procedure are used. Results of this study reveal that the snap-buckling phenomenon can take place in a shallow cylindrical panel subjected to lateral pressure loading. This attractive behavior is observed due to the immovability of the flat edges of the shell. It is shown that the snap-buckling phenomenon in a long cylindrical panel is highly dependent upon the elastic foundations, thermal environments, geometrical parameters and material properties.