Structural analyses of nano-stitched composite laminates based on FSDT using finite element approach

Here, the numerical analyses of nano-stitched graphite-epoxy laminated composite are presented. A micromechanical model is used to obtain the effective elastic properties of the nano-stitched layers by considering a very thin layer of polymer nanocomposite. The mechanical and structural characteristics are examined for thin and thick plates using the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and a finite element analysis. Governing equilibrium equations and constitutive equations have been presented to investigate the out-of-plane shear stresses and in-plane normal stresses in the laminated plates. Further, transverse bending deflection and normal stresses are determined for different sets of composite laminates. Comparative studies of CNT stitched and unstitched laminated plates have been carried out for sinusoidal loading and different boundary conditions. . Results show a good agreement between present and available analytical results. The evaluation indicates that there is a significant reduction in normal and transverse stress components with the use of only 5% of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT) at the interface of the conventional laminated plates.

Automated summary

Numerical analyses of nano-stitched graphite-epoxy laminated composite were conducted using a micromechanical model to examine mechanical and structural characteristics, showing a significant reduction in normal and transverse stress components with the addition of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on the interface of conventional laminated plates. First-order shear deformation theory and finite element analysis were employed to study the behavior of thin and thick plates.