Nonlinear thermomechanical analysis of GPLRC cylindrical shells using HSDT enriched by quasi-3D ANS cover functions

In this paper, a new analytical approach to the nonlinear analysis of functionally graded graphene platelet reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) laminated cylindrical shells under external pressure and thermal environment is presented for the first time. The analytical approach is based on the higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT), which is enriched by quasi-3D assumed natural strain (ANS) cover functions. The thermomechanical properties of composite laminated shells are considered to be temperature-dependent, and are evaluated using the modified Halpin-Tsai model and the rule of mixture. The governing equations for the GPLRC laminated cylindrical shells are established by using the enriched HSDT and the principle of virtual work. A higher-order quasi-3D strain field is proposed for the assumed kinematic field. The trigonometric series and the Laplace transform are used to establish the nonlinear buckling and post-buckling relations. The proposed analytical method is compared with different equivalent single-layer models. Moreover, two nonlinear parametric studies of GPLRC laminated cylindrical shells with different geometrical dimensions, temperature gradients, foundation stiffnesses and distribution patterns are presented. Finally, a stress analysis of GPLRC cylindrical shells under the thermal environment is carried out.