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Abstract: This paper presents the buckling analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plates under various in-plane mechanical loads, using the element-free kp-Ritz method. The first-order shear deformation plate theory is applied and a set of mesh-free kernel particle functions are used to approximate two-dimensional displacement fields. Effective properties of materials of the plates reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are estimated through a micromechanical model based on either the Eshelby–Mori–Tanaka approach or the extended rule of mixture. Comparison study and numerical simulations with various parameters are conducted to assess efficacy and accuracy of the present method for analysis of buckling of SWCNT-reinforced composite plates. Results demonstrate that the change of carbon nanotube volume fraction, plate width-to-thickness ratio, plate aspect ratio, loading condition and temperature have pronounced effects on buckling strength of CNTRC plates as well as the boundary condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The vibration behaviors of functionally graded carbon nanotube (FG-CNT) reinforced composite rectangular plates subjected to in-plane loads are studied in this paper. Three types of carbon nanotube (CNT) distributions are researched in this investigation. Reddy’s third-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) is applied to evaluate the displacement fields of the plate. The equation of motion of the structural system is formulated with use of the Hamilton’s principle. The plates investigated in this study are simply-supported on two opposite edges and therefore, in order to solve the coupling set of equations of motion, the state-space Levy method is applied. Based on the Levy solution, the natural frequencies and vibration mode shapes of FG-CNT reinforced composite plates subjected to in-plane loads with different boundary conditions are presented for different thickness-length ratios and aspect ratios. Moreover, the critical in-plane loads for the buckling of different FG-CNT plates are calculated and compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]