Static analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite plate embedded in piezoelectric layers by using theory of elasticity

Based on three-dimensional theory of elasticity, bending behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plate embedded in thin piezoelectric layers subjected to mechanical uniform load with simply supported boundary conditions is investigated. By using Fourier series expansion along the longitudinal and latitudinal directions and state space technique across the thickness direction closed form solution is derived. Accuracy and convergence of the presents approach, is validated by comparing the numerical results with the published numerical results in the literature. In addition, the effects of volume fraction of CNT, two case of FG-CNTRC, piezoelectric layer thickness, length to thickness ration and modes number on the static behavior of the hybrid plate are also examined. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.