Wave propagation of FG-CNTRC plates in thermal environment using the high-order shear deformation plate theory

This paper investigates wave propagation in functionally graded carbon nano-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plates under the influence of temperature based on Reddy' plate model. The material properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are size-dependent, and the volume fraction of CNTs varies only along the thickness direction of the plate for different CNTs reinforcement modes. In addition, the material properties of CNTs can vary for different temperature parameters. By solving the eigenvalue problem, analytical dispersion relations can be derived for CNTRC plates. The partial differential equations for the system are derived from Lagrange's principle and higher order shear deformation theory is used to obtain the wave equations for the CNTRC plate. Numerical analyses show that the wave propagation properties in the CNTRC plate are related to the volume fraction parameters of the CNTRC plate and the distribution pattern of the CNTs in the polymer matrix. The effects of different volume fractions of CNTs and the distribution pattern of carbon nanotubes along the cross section (UD-O-X plate) are discussed in detail.