Nonlinear thermal dynamic buckling and global optimization of smart sandwich plate with porous homogeneous core and carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposite layers

Abstract

Abstract The analytical investigation for the nonlinear thermal dynamic buckling of smart sandwich plate subjected to mechanical, thermal and electric loadings is presented. The sandwich plate is composed of a porous homogeneous core, two carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) layers and two piezoelectric face sheets. Basic equations are derived based on the Reddy s higher order shear deformation plate theory and Hamilton s principle in which the initial imperfection and Pasternak-type elastic foundations are included. The external pressure is assumed to be uniformly distributed on the surface of the sandwich plate and depend on time according to the linear functions. The nonlinear dynamic response, the frequency – amplitude relation are obtained by using the Galerkin and Runge – Kutta methods and the critical dynamic buckling load is determined by using Budiansky – Roth criterion. Bees Algorithm is used to determine the maximum value of natural frequency of smart sandwich plate and the corresponding optimum values of geometrical and material parameters. The effects of geometrical parameters, CNT volume fraction, elastic foundations, temperature increment, initial imperfection and porosity coefficient on the nonlinear vibration and dynamic buckling of the smart sandwich plate are considered specifically. The numerical results are also compared with existing results using different theories.