Nonlinear buckling analysis of magneto-electro-elastic CNT-MT hybrid nanoshells based on the nonlocal continuum mechanics

This study presents a size-dependent continuum model for the nonlinear buckling of magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) hybrid nanoshells in thermal environment. The nanocomposite cylindrical shell is composed of a carbon nanotube (CNT), a microtubule (MT) and a MEE nanoscale layer which are coupled by polymer or filament matrix. The hybrid nanostructure is subjected to thermo-electro-magnetic loads. The small scale effect is taken into consideration based on the nonlocal elasticity theory. The Pasternak model is used to simulate the normal and shear behavior of the coupling elastic medium. Using the principle of virtual work and von Karman's strain-displacement relations, the nonlinear governing differential equations are derived. The non-dimensional postbuckling loads of the hybrid nanoshells are obtained using the Galerkin's approach. The validity of the present model and method of solution is verified by comparing the results with available experimental data and the molecular dynamics simulation results from the literature. It is found that the nonlinear buckling loads of MEE hybrid nanoshells are strongly sensitive to the small scale coefficient. In addition, the non-dimensional buckling loads decrease with increasing the external electric voltage, while the applied magnetic potential has an increasing effects on the critical buckling loads. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.