Thermoelastic Analysis of Functionally Graded Cylinders Reinforced by Wavy CNT Using a Mesh-Free Method

In this work, thermoelastic analysis of finite length functionally graded (FG) cylinders reinforced by single-walled wavy carbon nanotube is investigated by a mesh-free method. The cylinders are subjected to thermal gradient and mechanical loading. The material properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) and polymer matrix are assumed temperature-dependent and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite are estimated by a micro mechanical model in volume fraction form. CNT distribution has a linear distribution along the radial direction of axisymmetric cylinder. In the mesh-free analysis, moving least squares shape functions are used for approximation of displacement field in the weak form of equilibrium equation and the transformation method is used for the imposition of essential boundary conditions. Using the mesh-free method, temperature distribution of the cylinder is derived and then by considering of the temperature, material properties of nanocomposite and stress distribution of the cylinder are derived. So, the effects of CNT distribution pattern and volume fraction, loading (mechanical or thermal), cylinder length and CNT aspect ratio and waviness are investigated on the thermoelastic behavior of the nanocomposite cylinders. (C) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers