Analysis of wave propagation characteristics in piezoelectric cylindrical composite shells reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Wave propagation is studied and analyzed in a piezoelectric cylindrical composite shell reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by using the Mori-Tanaka micromechanical model and considering the transverse shear effects and rotary inertia via the first-order shear deformation shell theory for the first time. The novelty of this study is to provide a mathematical model and solution to investigate the wave behavior in a CNT-reinforced piezoelectric cylindrical composite shell by considering the transverse shear effects and rotary inertia. Dispersion solutions are obtained by solving an eigenvalue problem. The effects of axial and circumferential wave numbers on dispersion curves are explained. The effects of carbon nanotubes and shell geometry parameters on dispersion solutions are examined as well. In addition, a comparison of dispersion solutions from different shell theories within different axial and circumferential wave numbers and CNT volume fractions is provided to illustrate the transverse shear and rotary inertia effects on wave propagation characteristics. The results of this paper can be used for studies on wave propagation in piezoelectric composite shell structures and in design of smart composite shell structures with piezoelectric materials for dynamic stability analysis and structural health monitoring.