Modelling and Analysis of Piezolaminated Functionally Graded Polymer Composite Structures Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets under Strong Electroelastic Fields

摘要

This paper focuses on the electromechanical modelling and analysis of piezolaminated functionally graded polymer composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets considering strong electric field nonlinearities. Non-uniform distribution of reinforcement of graphene nanoplatelets is assumed along the thickness direction in multilayer polymer nanocomposites, whereas uniform dispersion GPLs in each layer is assumed. Modified Halpin-Tsai micromechanics is used to determine the effective Young's modulus of GPLs considering the effects of geometry and dimension changes. Electro-elastic nonlinear constitutive relations are used to model the piezoelectric layers under strong applied electric fields. Through variational formulation, a finite element is derived to model and analyse the layered GPL/polymer composite structures. Various simulations are performed to study the effects of several parameters like distribution pattern and size of GPLs by applying actuation voltages to piezoelectric layers.