Linear aeroelastic analysis of cantilever hybrid composite laminated plates with curvilinear fibres and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, cantilever laminated composite plates, subjected to supersonic airflow, are studied in the linear elastic regime. The considered material is a multiscale three-phase composite, constituted by epoxy resin reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and curvilinear carbon fibres. The orientation of the fibres is defined using three different functions. A model based on a third-order shear deformation theory and a p-version finite element is applied. Furthermore, a hierarchical approach is applied to characterise the mechanical properties of the composite material. A combination of adequate micromechanics based models, including a modified version of the Halpin-Tsai model, the Rule of Mixtures, a unit cell-based model, and the Chamis model, is implemented. The aeroelastic analysis is performed considering the linear piston theory to evaluate flutter (dynamic instability) and divergence (static instability) in such structures. The improvements achieved through the combination of carbon nanotubes and curvilinear fibres on the instabilities are explored.