On the snap-buckling phenomenon in nanocomposite curved tubes

The nonlinear snap-through buckling of functionally graded (FG) carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) curved tubes is analytically investigated in this research. It is assumed that the FG-CNTRC curved tube is supported on a threeparameter nonlinear elastic foundation and is subjected to the uniformly distributed pressure and thermal loads. Properties of the curved nanocomposite tube are distributed across the radius of the pipe and are given by means of a refined rule of mixtures approach. It is also assumed that all thermomechanical properties of the nanocomposite tube are temperature-dependent. The governing equations of the curved tube are obtained using a higher-order shear deformation theory, where the traction free boundary conditions are satisfied on the top and bottom surfaces of the tube. The von Kármán type of geometrical non-linearity is included into the formulation to consider the large deflection in the curved tube. Equations of motion are solved using the twostep perturbation technique for nanocomposite curved tubes which are simply-supported and clamped. Closed-form expressions are provided to estimate the snap-buckling resistance of FG-CNTRC curved pipes rested on nonlinear elastic foundation in thermal environment. Numerical results are given to explore the effects of the distribution pattern and volume fraction of CNTs, thermal field, foundation stiffnesses, and geometrical parameters on the instability of the curved nanocomposite tube.