Abstract
A semi analytical approach based on the trigonometric expansion and generalized differential quadrature (TE-GDQ) method is implemented to investigate the thermal buckling of a functionally graded graphene platelet reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) conical shell. Graphene platelets distribution is assumed randomly oriented and uniformly dispersed for each ply. Variation of the volume fraction of plies is modeled according to a step functionally graded medium. Effective material properties of the shell are calculated using the Halpin-Tsai micromechanical rule. Equilibrium equations are derived by means of the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT), nonlinear geometrical relation based on the von Kármán theory, and the Donnell kinematics assumption. The pre-buckling of the shell under uniform thermal load is solved considering the linear membrane procedure. Afterward, the linearized stability equations are obtained utilizing the adjacent equilibrium criterion. Next, using the TE-GDQ method, stability equations convert to an eigenvalue problem. Finally, eigenvalue problem is solved and the critical temperature rise can be determined. After validation of the formulation and methods, several parametric studies are examined to research the effects of the volume fraction of GPLs, semi vertex angle, length-to-thickness ratio and other parameters on the critical temperature.
•Thermal buckling behavior of graphene platelet reinforced composites is studies.•Halpin-Tsai method is used to obtain the elastic properties of the composite media reinforced with GPLs.•Functionally graded distribution of GPLs is considered.•Different combination of edge supports is assumed.