Stress analysis of functionally graded open cylindrical shell reinforced by agglomerated carbon nanotubes

• Bending behavior of functionally graded nanocomposites is studied.
• An equivalent continuum model based on Eshelby–Mori–Tanaka approach.
• Graded material properties in the thickness direction are assumed.

In this paper, stresses due to bending behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced (FGCNTR) open cylindrical shells subjected to mechanical loads is studied. The material properties of FGCNTR shells are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction, and are estimated using a two-parameter micromechanics model in which Eshelby–Mori–Tanaka approach is employed. The primary bending formulation is based on the linear, small-strain, three-dimensional elasticity theory. In addition, the cylindrical shells are analyzed using the third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT). In order to discretize the governing equations, the two-dimensional generalized differential quadrature method (2-D GDQM) in the thickness and longitudinal directions and the trigonometric functions in tangential direction are used. The effects of agglomeration parameters, CNTs volume fraction, and CNTs distribution through the thickness on the bending behavior of FGCNTR open cylindrical shells are studied. In addition, the mechanical stresses obtained from 3-D elasticity are compared with those obtained using TSDT for a different range of geometric and agglomeration parameters.