3D analysis of thermo-elastic behavior of composite plate

An Iranian researcher from Tarbiat Modarres University in association with another researcher from City University of Hong Kong studied three-dimensional thermo-elastic behavior of rectangular composite plates graded with carbon nanotubes. Carrying out the study, they obtained and solved analytically differential equations related to temperature distribution and thermo-elastic in the plates. In this research, the behavior of a composite plate graded with carbon nanotube (FG CNTRC), whose surfaces were subjected to thermal and mechanical loads, was investigated based on 3-D theory of elasticity by using Fourier series expansion through state space method. The researchers then obtained equations on thermo-elastic behavior of the structure by carrying out analytical studying on the free and static vibration of the structure subjected to mechanical load in three dimensions. Then, they proposed an analytical method to solve the equations, and they finally investigated the effect of various parameters such as volume ratio and the arrangement of carbon nanotubes on thermo-elastic behavior of the structure. The accuracy and validity of the results obtained in the research were confirmed by comparing them with the results obtained from numerical results reported in articles. Results of the research showed that the density of carbon nanotubes and their arrangement have significant effect on strength behavior and temperature distribution in the structure. The effect of volume ratio of carbon nanotube on thermo-elastic behavior across the length is much more than that in other directions. In addition, increasing the size in all dimensions increases all thermo-elastic behaviors as well. The performance of the structure cannot be relied on at high temperature conditions without the use of the analysis. However, the mentioned structure can be designed to perform at desirable thermal conditions as a result of the research. Results of the research have been published in details in Composite Structures, vol. 106, July 2013, pp. 873-881.