Nonlinear low-velocity impact analysis of temperature-dependent nanotube-reinforced composite plates

A nonlinear analysis is presented for impact response of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (CNTRC) structures under thermal conditions. Two plate configurations (i.e., single-layer and sandwich plates) are considered, and the nanotube reinforcement is either uniformly-distributed or functionally-graded in the plate thickness direction. The material properties of nanotube reinforced composites are estimated using micromechanical models. The equations of motion are based on a higher-order shear deformation theory with a von Kármán-type of kinematic nonlinearity, and the thermal effects are included by considering the nanotube reinforced composites as temperature-dependent. The equations of motion are solved with a two-step perturbation technique, and the initial stresses caused by either the thermal or in-plane edge loads as in-plane boundary conditions are introduced. The influences of material property gradient, volume fraction distribution, temperature change, initial stress, initial velocity of the impactor, and core-to-face sheet thickness ratio on impact response of plate structures are discussed. The analysis presented can help better understand the nonlinear impact response of functionally-graded materials and facilitate design and optimization of nanocomposite structures against impact and under thermal and other environments.