In this paper, two different approaches for modeling the behaviour of carbon nanotubes are presented. The first method models carbon nanotubes as an inhomogeneous cylindrical network shell using the asymptotic homogenization method. Explicit formulae are derived representing Young's and shear moduli of single-walled nanotubes in terms of pertinent material and geometric parameters. As an example, assuming certain values for these parameters, the Young's modulus was found to be 1.71 TPa, while the shear modulus was 0.32 TPa. The second method is based on finite element models. The inter-atomic interactions due to covalent and non-covalent bonds are replaced by beam and spring elements, respectively, in the structural model. Correlations between classical molecular mechanics and structural mechanics are used to effectively model the physics governing the nanotubes. Finite element models are developed for single-, double-and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The deformations from the finite element simulations are subsequently used to predict the elastic and shear moduli of the nanotubes. The variation of mechanical properties with tube diameter is investigated for both zig-zag and armchair configurations. Furthermore, the dependence of mechanical properties on the number of nanotubules in multi-walled structures is also examined. Based on the finite element model, the value for the elastic modulus varied from 0.9 to 1.05 TPa for single and 1.32 to 1.58 TPa for double/multi-walled nanotubes. The shear modulus was found to vary from 0.14 to 0.47 TPa for single-walled nanotubes and 0.37 to 0.62 for double/multi-walled nanotubes.

A comprehensive micromechanical model for the analysis of a smart composite piezo-magneto-thermoelastic thin plate with rapidly-varying thickness is developed in the present paper. A rigorous three-dimensional formulation is used as the basis of multiscale asymptotic homogenization. The asymptotic homogenization model is developed using static equilibrium equations and the quasi-static approximation of Maxwell's equations. The work culminates in the derivation of a set of differential equations and associated boundary conditions. These systems of equations are called unit cell problems and their solution yields such coefficients as the effective elastic, piezoelectric, piezomagnetic, dielectric permittivity and others. Among these coefficients, the so-called product coefficients are also determined which are present in the behavior of the macroscopic composite as a result of the interactions and strain transfer between the various phases but can be absent from the constitutive behavior of some individual phases of the composite material. The model is comprehensive enough to allow calculation of such local fields as mechanical stress, electric displacement and magnetic induction. In part II of this work, the theory is illustrated by means of examples pertaining to thin laminated magnetoelectric plates of uniform thickness and wafer-type smart composite plates with piezoelectric and piezomagnetic constituents. The practical importance of the model lies in the fact that it can be successfully employed to tailor the effective properties of a smart composite plate to the requirements of a particular engineering application by changing certain geometric or material parameters. The results of the model constitute an important refinement over previously established work. Finally, it is shown that in the limiting case of a thin elastic plate of uniform thickness the derived model converges to the familiar classical plate model.

A comprehensive micromechanical model for the analysis of a smart composite piezo-magneto-thermoelastic thin plate with rapidly varying thickness is developed in Part I of this work. The asymptotic homogenization model is developed using static equilibrium equations and the quasi-static approximation of Maxwell's equations. The work culminates in the derivation of general expressions for effective elastic, piezoelectric, piezomagnetic, dielectric permittivity and other coefficients. Among these coefficients, the so-called product coefficients are determined which are present in the behavior of the macroscopic composite as a result of the interactions between the various phases but can be absent from the constitutive behavior of some individual phases of the composite structure. The model is comprehensive enough to also allow for calculation of the local fields of mechanical stresses, electric displacement and magnetic induction. The present paper determines the effective properties of constant thickness laminates comprised of monoclinic materials or orthotropic materials which are rotated with respect to their principal material coordinate system. A further example illustrates the determination of the effective properties of wafer-type magnetoelectric composite plates reinforced with smart ribs or stiffeners oriented along the tangential directions of the plate. For generality, it is assumed that the ribs and the base plate are made of different orthotropic materials. It is shown in this work that for the purely elastic case the results of the derived model converge exactly to previously established models. However, in the more general case where some or all of the phases exhibit piezoelectric and/or piezomagnetic behavior, the expressions for the derived effective coefficients are shown to be dependent on not only the elastic properties but also on the piezoelectric and piezomagnetic parameters of the constituent materials. Thus, the results presented here represent a significant refinement of previously obtained results.

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