This paper examines the effect of uniaxially aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) on flexural and free vibration analysis of CNT-reinforced functionally graded plate. The mathematical model includes expansion of Taylor's series up to the third degree in the thickness co-ordinate. Since there is a parabolic variation in transverse shear strain deformation across the thickness co-ordinate, the shear correction factor is not necessary. A nine-node two-dimensional (2D) C⁰ isoparametric element containing seven nodal unknowns per node was developed in the finite element code. The final material properties of CNT-reinforced functionally graded plate are estimated using the extended rule of mixture. The effect of CNT distribution, boundary condition, volume fraction and loading pattern are studied by developing a finite element code. An additional finite element code was developed for the study of the influence of concentrated mass on free vibration analysis of CNT-reinforced functionally graded plate.
Keywords: bending; carbon nanotube; concentrated mass; cubic variation of thickness co-ordinate; finite element method; free vibration; functionally graded material.