An Investigation of Free Vibration Characteristics of a DFG-CNTRC Thin Laminated Shell in Thermal Environment

Abstract

A dynamic model of dual-functional gradient carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (DFG-CNTRC) laminated shell in a thermal gradient environment is established. The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are supposed to be FG distribution in the functionally graded material (FGM) consisting of metal and ceramic components, and its traveling wave vibration in thermal gradient environment environments is studied. The temperature between the internal and external sides of laminated shell varies linearly. Considering the impact of the thermal environment on material properties, the orthogonal polynomials are used as admissible function, and the vibration differential equation of the DFG-CNTRC laminated shell is obtained by using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. First-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and artificial spring technique are applied to establish a general model of free vibration of rotating DFG-CNTRC laminated shells under arbitrary boundary in the thermal gradient environment. The effects of rotational speed, the environmental temperature, the thickness of the middle layer, and volume fraction of CNTs on the traveling waves are discussed.