An element-free analysis of CNT-reinforced composite plates with column supports and elastically restrained edges under large deformation

This paper presents a geometrically nonlinear analysis of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced functionally graded composite plates with elastically restrained edges and internal supports. The plate considered is of thin-to-moderate thickness undergoing large deflection; hence, the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and von Kármán assumption are adopted. The governing equation to this problem is derived through the IMLS-Ritz method. The CNT-reinforced composite plates considered are: (i) uniformly distributed; and (ii) functionally graded distributions of CNT reinforcement, in which the material properties of CNT-reinforced composite plates are functionally graded in the thickness direction. Several example problems with different types of internal supports and elastic edge restraints are studied. Results for isotropic cases are presented for the purpose of possible verification of the published solutions reported in the literature.