Linear static response of nanocomposite plates and shells reinforced by agglomerated carbon nanotubes

The static response of composite plates and shells reinforced by agglomerated nanoparticles made of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) is investigated in the present paper. A two-parameter agglomeration model is taken into account to describe the micromechanics of such particles, which show the tendency to agglomerate into spherical regions when scattered in a polymer matrix. From the macro mechanical point of view, the structures under consideration are characterized by a gradual variation of their mechanical properties along the thickness direction, since various distributions are employed to describe the volume fraction of the reinforcing phase. Several Higher-order Shear Deformation Theories (HSDTs) are taken into account and compared. The fundamental equations which govern the static problem in hand are solved numerically by means of the Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) method. The variation of the agglomeration parameters, as well as the through-the-thickness profiles which describe the CNT volume fraction, are investigated to show the effect of the reinforcing phase on the static response of these nanocomposite plates and shells. In particular, a posteriori stress and strain recovery procedure is developed for these purposes. The current approach is validated through the comparison with the results available in the literature or obtained by a three-dimensional finite element model.