Nonlinear buckling and postbuckling of FG-CNTRC sandwich plates with multi-layer corrugated FG-CNTRC core

Abstract

This paper proposes an analytical solution for the nonlinear buckling behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) sandwich plates under axial compressive and external pressure loads is analytically examined in this paper. The considered plates are designed with the multi-layer corrugated FG-CNTRC core and face sheets. The CNT distribution laws of the multi-layer corrugated core are proposed to ensure the material continuity between FG-CNTRC face sheets and multi-layer corrugated core. Classical plate theory (CPT) with geometrical nonlinearities is utilized to formulate the fundamental expressions. In addition, the Ritz energy method is used to achieve the expressions of compression and pressure postbuckling curves, and axial critical buckling loads. The investigations numerically display the influences of multi-layer corrugated core, material, and geometrical properties on the nonlinear buckling and postbuckling behavior of plates.