Refined nonlocal strain gradient theory for mechanical response of cosine FG-GRNC laminated nanoshells rested on elastic foundation

This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of a new type of functionally graded graphene-reinforced nanocomposite (FG-GRNC) doubly-curved laminated shells, referred to as cosine FG-GRNC. The study employs a refined higher-order shear deformation shell theory combined with a modified continuum nonlocal strain gradient theory. The effective Young's modulus of the GRNC shell in the thickness direction is determined using the modified Halpin-Tsai model, while Poisson's ratio and mass density are calculated using the rule of mixtures. The analysis includes two graphene-reinforced distribution patterns—FG-A CNRCs and FG-B CNRCs—along with uniform UD CNRCs. An enhanced Galerkin method is used to solve the governing equilibrium equations for the GRNC nanoshell, yielding closed-form solutions for bending deflection and critical buckling loads. The nanoshell is supported by an orthotropic elastic foundation characterized by three parameters. A detailed parametric analysis is performed to evaluate how factors such as the length scale parameter, nonlocal parameter, distribution pattern, GPL weight fraction, shell thickness, and shell geometry influence deflections and critical buckling loads.