• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.15-31
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• 2023

Organic solar cells utilized natural polymers to convert solar energy to electricity. The demands for green energy production and less disposal of toxic materials make them one of the interesting candidates for replacing conventional solar cells. However, the different aspects of their properties including mechanical strength and stability are not well recognized. Therefore, in the present study, we aim to explore the chaotic responses of these organic solar cells. In doing so, a specific type of organic solar cell constructed from layers of material with different thicknesses is considered to obtain vibrational and chaotic responses under different boundaries and initial conditions. A square plate structure is examined with first-order shear deformation theory to acquire the displacement field in the laminated structure. The bounding between different layers is considered to be perfect with no sliding and separation. On the other hand, nonlocal elasticity theory is engaged in incorporating the structural effects of the organic material into calculations. Hamilton's principle is adopted to obtain governing equations with regard to boundary conditions and mechanical loadings. The extracted equations of motion were solved using the perturbation method and differential quadrature approach. The results demonstrated the significant effect of relative glass layer thickness on the chaotic behavior of the structure with higher relative thickness leading to less chaotic responses. Moreover, a comprehensive parameter study is presented to examine the effects of nonlocality and relative thicknesses on the natural frequency of square organic solar cell structure.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.393-406
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• 2022

In the present article, functionally graded small-scaled plates based on modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) are studied for analyzing the nonlinear bending and post-buckling responses. Von-Karman's assumptions are applied to incorporate geometric nonlinearity and the first-order shear deformation theory is used to model the plates. Modified strain gradient theory includes three length scale parameters and is reduced to the modified couple stress theory (MCST) and the classical theory (CT) if two or all three length scale parameters become zero, respectively. The Ritz method with Legendre polynomials are used to approximate the unknown displacement fields. The solution is found by the minimization of the total potential energy and the well-known Newton-Raphson technique is used to solve the nonlinear system of equations. In addition, numerical results for the functionally graded small-scaled plates are obtained and the effects of different boundary conditions, material gradient index, thickness to length scale parameter and length to thickness ratio of the plates on nonlinear bending and post-buckling responses are investigated and discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.149-158
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• 2024

Considering that different boundary conditions can have an important impact on structural vibration characteristics. In this paper, the nonlinear forced vibration behavior of functionally graded material (FGM) doubly curved shells with initial geometric imperfections under different boundary conditions is studied. Considering initial geometric imperfections and von Karman geometric nonlinearity, the nonlinear governing equations of FGM doubly curved shells are derived using Reissner's first order shear deformation (FOSD) theory. Three different boundary conditions of four edges simply supported (SSSS), four edges clamped (CCCC), clamped-clamped-simply-simply (CCSS) were studied, and a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations was obtained with the help of Galerkin principle. The nonlinear forced vibration response of the FGM doubly curved shell is obtained by using the modified Lindstedt Poincare (MLP) method. The accuracy of this method was verified by comparing it with published literature. Finally, the effects of curvature ratio, power law index, void coefficient, prestress, and initial geometric imperfections on the resonance of FGM doubly curved shells under different boundary conditions are fully discussed. The relevant research results can provide certain guidance for the design and application of doubly curved shell.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.63-75
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• 2024

In this paper, the modified couple stress theory (MCST) and first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) are employed to investigate the free vibration and bending analyses of a three-layered micro-shell sandwiched by piezoelectric layers subjected to an applied voltage and reinforced graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) under external and internal pressure. The micro-shell is resting on an elastic foundation modeled as Pasternak model. The mixture's rule and Halpin-Tsai model are utilized to compute the effective mechanical properties. By applying Hamilton's principle, the motion equations and associated boundary conditions are derived. Static/ dynamic results are obtained using Navier's method. The results are validated with the previously published works. The numerical results are presented to study and discuss the influences of various parameters on the natural frequencies and deflection of the micro-shell, such as applied voltage, thickness of the piezoelectric layer to radius, length to radius ratio, volume fraction and various distribution pattern of the GPLs, thickness-to-length scale parameter, and foundation coefficients for the both external and internal pressure. The main novelty of this work is simultaneous effect of graphene nanoplatelets as reinforcement and piezoelectric layers on the bending and vibration characteristics of the sandwich micro shell.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.395-412
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• 2024

This article develops a nonclassical size dependent nanoplate model to study the dynamic response of functionally graded carbon nanotube (FGCNT) nanoplates under a moving load. Both nonlocal and microstructure effects are incorporated through the nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory. To investigate the effect of reinforcement orientation of CNT, four different configurations are studied and analysed. The FGM gradation thorough the thickness direction is simulated using the power law. In the context of the first order shear deformation theory, the dynamic equations of motion and the associated boundary conditions are derived by Hamilton's principle. An analytical solution of the dynamic equations of motion is derived based on the Navier methodology. The proposed model is verified and compared with the available results in the literature and good agreement is found. The numerical results show that the dynamic performance of FGCNT nanoplates could be governed by the reinforcement pattern and volume fraction in addition to the non-classical parameters and the moving load dimensionless parameter. Obtained results are reassuring in design and analysis of nanoplates reinforced with CNTs.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.505-534
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• 2012

The present work deals with second order statistics of post buckling response of piezoelectric laminated composite cylindrical shell panel subjected to hygro-thermo-electro-mechanical loading with random system properties. System parameters such as the material properties, thermal expansion coefficients and lamina plate thickness are assumed to be independent of the temperature and electric field and modeled as random variables. The piezoelectric material is used in the forms of layers surface bonded on the layers of laminated composite shell panel. The mathematical formulation is based on higher order shear deformation shell theory (HSDT) with von-Karman nonlinear kinematics. A efficient $C^0$ nonlinear finite element method based on direct iterative procedure in conjunction with a first order perturbation approach (FOPT) is developed for the implementation of the proposed problems in random environment and is employed to evaluate the second order statistics (mean and variance) of the post buckling load of piezoelectric laminated cylindrical shell panel. Typical numerical results are presented to examine the effect of various environmental conditions, amplitude ratios, electrical voltages, panel side to thickness ratios, aspect ratios, boundary conditions, curvature to side ratios, lamination schemes and types of loadings with random system properties. It is observed that the piezoelectric effect has a significant influence on the stochastic post buckling response of composite shell panel under various loading conditions and some new results are presented to demonstrate the applications of present work. The results obtained using the present solution approach is validated with those results available in the literature and also with independent Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS).

• Wind and Structures
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.131-156
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• 2017

This paper deals with the dynamic stability of embedded functionally graded (FG)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced micro cylindrical shells. The structure is subjected to harmonic non-uniform temperature distribution and 2D magnetic field. The CNT reinforcement is either uniformly distributed or FG along the thickness direction where the effective properties of nano-composite structure are estimated through Mixture low. The viscoelastic properties of structure are captured based on the Kelvin-Voigt theory. The surrounding viscoelastic medium is considered nonhomogeneous with the spring, orthotropic shear and damper constants. The material properties of cylindrical shell and the viscoelastic medium constants are assumed temperature-dependent. The first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) or Mindlin theory in conjunction with Hamilton's principle is utilized for deriving the motion equations where the size effects are considered based on Eringen's nonlocal theory. Based on differential quadrature (DQ) and Bolotin methods, the dynamic instability region (DIR) of structure is obtained for different boundary conditions. The effects of different parameters such as volume percent and distribution type of CNTs, mode number, viscoelastic medium type, temperature, boundary conditions, magnetic field, nonlocal parameter and structural damping constant are shown on the DIR of system. Numerical results indicate that the FGX distribution of CNTs is better than other considered cases. In addition, considering structural damping of system reduces the resonance frequency.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.431-448
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• 2012

In this paper, the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) (Mindlin) for continuum incorporating surface energy is exploited to study the static behavior of ultra-thin functionally graded (FG) plates. The size-dependent mechanical response is very important while the plate thickness reduces to micro/nano scales. Bulk stresses on the surfaces are required to satisfy the surface balance conditions involving surface stresses. Unlike the classical continuum plate models, the bulk transverse normal stress is preserved here. By incorporating the surface energies into the principle of minimum potential energy, a series of continuum governing differential equations which include intrinsic length scales are derived. The modifications over the classical continuum stiffness are also obtained. To illustrate the application of the theory, simply supported micro/nano scaled rectangular films subjected to a transverse mechanical load are investigated. Numerical examples are presented to present the effects of surface energies on the behavior of functionally graded (FG) film, whose effective elastic moduli of its bulk material are represented by the simple power law. The proposed model is then used for a comparison between the continuum analysis of FG ultra-thin plates with and without incorporating surface effects. Also, the transverse shear strain effect is studied by a comparison between the FG plate behavior based on Kirchhoff and Mindlin assumptions. In our analysis the residual surface tension under unstrained conditions and the surface Lame constants are expected to be the same for the upper and lower surfaces of the FG plate. The proposed model is verified by previous work.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.141-153
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• 2019

This research deals with wave propagation of the functionally graded (FG) nano-beams based on the nonlocal elasticity theory considering surface and flexoelectric effects. The FG nano-beam is resting in Winkler-Pasternak foundation. It is assumed that the material properties of the nano-beam changes continuously along the thickness direction according to simple power-law form. In order to include coupling of strain gradients and electrical polarizations in governing equations of motion, the nonlocal non-classical nano-beam model containg flexoelectric effect is used. Also, the effects of surface elasticity, dielectricity and piezoelectricity as well as bulk flexoelectricity are all taken into consideration. The governing equations of motion are derived using Hamilton principle based on first shear deformation beam theory (FSDBT) and also considering residual surface stresses. The analytical method is used to calculate phase velocity of wave propagation in FG nano-beam as well as cut-off frequency. After verification with validated reference, comprehensive numerical results are presented to investigate the influence of important parameters such as flexoelectric coefficients of the surface, bulk and residual surface stresses, Winkler and shear coefficients of foundation, power gradient index of FG material, and geometric dimensions on the wave propagation characteristics of FG nano-beam. The numerical results indicate that considering surface effects/flexoelectric property caused phase velocity increases/decreases in low wave number range, respectively. The influences of aforementioned parameters on the occurrence cut-off frequency point are very small.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제89권1호
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• pp.33-46
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• 2024

The present research delves into the analysis of nonlinear free and forced vibrations of porous functionally graded (FG) shallow shells reinforced with oblique stiffeners, which are embedded in a nonlinear elastic foundation (NEF) subjected to external excitation. Two distinct types of PFG shallow shells, characterized by even and uneven porosity distribution along the thickness direction, are considered in the research. In order to model the stiffeners, Lekhnitskii's smeared stiffeners technique is implemented. With the stress function and first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), the nonlinear model of the oblique stiffened shallow shells is established. The strain-displacement relationships for the system are derived via the FSDT and utilization of the von-Kármán's geometric assumptions. To discretize the nonlinear governing equations, the Galerkin method is employed. The model such developed allows analysis of the effects of the stiffeners with various angles as desired, in addition to the quantitative investigation on the influence of the surrounding nonlinear elastic foundations. To numerically solve the problem of vibrations, the 4th-order P-T method is used, as this method, known for its enhanced accuracy and reliability, proves to be an effective choice. The validation of the present research findings includes a comprehensive comparison with outcomes documented in existing literature. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the numerical results against those obtained using the 4th Runge-Kutta method is performed. The impact of stiffeners with varying angles and material parameters on the vibration characteristics of the present system is also explored. The researchers and engineers working in this field may use the results of this study as benchmarks in their design and research for the considered shell systems.