Finite Element Analysis of Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Smart Functionally Graded Beam

Abstract

Study of smart functionally graded (FG) beam made of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced composites combined with piezoelectric material is carried out. Material parameters of the beam are supposed to vary along its thickness following extended rule of mixture. Finite element model is developed for the functionally graded CNT reinforced beam combined with piezoelectric material using ANSYS software. Numerical results are evaluated using different boundary conditions. Computed results revealed that piezoelectric layer of smart FG beam efficiently controls the bending deformations of the presently studied smart CNT reinforced functionally graded beams. Results are also presented considering various material profiles for the grading of FG beams. It is observed that X type profile distribution considering CNT volume fraction of 0.28 provides minimum bending deflection of the presently studied smart FGCNT reinforced composite beams for the activated as well as inactivated piezoelectric material