Bending, buckling and free vibration characteristics of FG-CNT-reinforced polymer composite beam under non-uniform thermal load

Bending, buckling and free vibration behaviors of functionally graded (FG) carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced polymer composite beam under different non-uniform thermal loads have been analyzed using finite element method. Extended rule of mixture is used to obtain effective material property of the composite. Four different types of FG beam exposed to four different assumed one-dimensional temperature distributions along the length of the beam are analyzed. Parameters studies are carried out to investigate influences of the volume fraction of the carbon nanotube, functional grading and the nature of temperature variation on bending, buckling and free vibration characteristics. It is found that bending deflection reduces with increase in volume fraction of the CNT except for unsymmetrical functional graded beam. The static bending deflection and deformed shape of the beams are significantly influenced by the nature of temperature field. The critical buckling temperature of the beam with symmetric CNT distribution (where CNTs concentration is far from the neutral axis) is greater than other beams under different temperature fields and its value is less when the beams are exposed to uniform temperature rise above ambient temperature compared to other non-uniform temperature variations. However, the critical buckling temperature is not increasing significantly with increase in volume fraction of the CNT. The fundamental buckling mode shape is not sensitive to the nature of temperature variation but bending amplitude of the buckling mode shape is significantly influenced by functional grading of CNT and volume fraction of the CNT. The natural frequency of the beams reduces significantly with increase in temperature and the free vibration mode shapes are not influenced by temperature rise, nature of temperature variation and volume fraction of the CNT.