Impact analysis of functionally-graded graphene nanoplatelets-reinforced composite plates laying on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations applying a meshless approach

In this paper, we investigated impact analysis of functionally-graded (FG) graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs)-reinforced composite plates with arbitrary boundary conditions and resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations. The element-free improved moving least-squares Ritz (IMLS-Ritz) approach and the higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) are used to develop the theoretical formulation. Target plates are set to have uniform and functionally graded GPLs distributions throughout their thickness. The modified Halpin-Tsai model is considered to calculate the effective Young's modulus yet the rule of mixture is used to calculate the effective Poisson's ratio and mass density. The modified nonlinear Hertz contact law is adopted to describe the contact force between the spherical impactor and target plates. In addition, Newmark time-integration method is employed to obtain dynamic response of plates as well as impactor's displacement. An extensive parametric study is performed to examine effects of some essential parameters on results (distributions and volume fraction of GPLs, initial velocity and radius of impactor, plate's width-to-thickness ratio, Winkler and Pasternak modulus parameters as well as boundary conditions).

Automated summary

This paper investigates impact analysis of functionally-graded graphene nanoplatelets-reinforced composite plates with arbitrary boundary conditions resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations. The study uses theoretical formulations and models to describe material properties and contact forces, with a parametric study to examine the effects of key parameters on results.