Abstract:
Functionally Graded Material (FGM) comes under category of advanced materials, where properties of material varies in specified direction. Overall properties of FGM is different from their parent materials.
Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are strongest material with lesser weight known till now. From this directly structures cannot be developed due to technology limitations. So these properties are utilized by mixing CNTs in different materials.
In this work, CNT reinforced FGM is used. Matrix material is aluminum considered as CNT reinforced Al FGM have lots of engineering applications. CNT reinforced FGM nano plate is considered where CNT volume fraction varies linearly 2% to 0% from top to bottom surface.
Effect of CNTs on FGM have been evaluated using mechanical, thermo mechanical and mode shape analysis. Deflection results for mechanical and thermo mechanical conditions, mode shapes with their natural frequencies has been compared with Al nano plate without CNTs, CNT reinforced Al composite nano plate. Orientation of CNTs are varied from 0 deg to 90 deg in step of 15 deg to find effect of CNTs orientation on FGM plate under mechanical, thermo mechanical conditions and natural frequencies with their mode shapes.
It was observed from the analysis that under mechanical, thermo mechanical and free vibration condition, Al nano plate without CNTs is weakest, while CNT reinforced Al FGM nano plate is slightly weaker then CNT reinforced Al composite nano plate under mechanical loading, while it is reverse in thermo mechanical loading. Similar pattern was observed for natural frequencies. In CNTs orientation study, it was observed that as the orientation varies from 0 deg to 90 deg, strength decrease for mechanical loading, while in thermo mechanical loading theses effects were negligible.
It was observed through this analysis, that CNT reinforced composite is still better option for good strength mechanical application, but FGM is better option where elevated temperature exists. All these observations will help to design FGM plate for specific applications.
