Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683

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Composite Structures
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruct

Nonlinear free vibration of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced

composite beams
Liao-Liang Ke a,c, Jie Yang b,*, Sritawat Kitipornchai a
a
Department of Building and Construction, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
b
School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora VIC 3083, Australia
c
Institute of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: This paper investigates the nonlinear free vibration of functionally graded nanocomposite beams rein-
Available online 19 September 2009 forced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) based on Timoshenko beam theory and von Kármán
geometric nonlinearity. The material properties of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced com-
Keywords: posites (FG-CNTRCs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction and estimated though the rule
Functionally graded materials of mixture. The Ritz method is employed to derive the governing eigenvalue equation which is then
Nanocomposites solved by a direct iterative method to obtain the nonlinear vibration frequencies of FG-CNTRC beams
Timoshenko beam theory
with different end supports. A detailed parametric study is conducted to study the influences of nanotube
Nonlinear free vibration
Ritz method
volume fraction, vibration amplitude, slenderness ratio and end supports on the nonlinear free vibration
characteristics of FG-CNTRC beams. The results for uniformly distributed carbon nanotube-reinforced
composite (UD-CNTRC) beams are also provided for comparison. Numerical results are presented in both
tabular and graphical forms to investigate the effects of nanotube volume fraction, vibration amplitude,
slenderness ratio, end supports and CNT distribution on the nonlinear free vibration characteristics of FG-
CNTRC beams.
Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of polymeric

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have demonstrated exceptional
mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, and are considered
as one of the most promising reinforcement materials for high per-
formance structural and multifunctional composites with tremen-
dous application potentials [1,2]. Since Ajayan et al. [3] first
studied polymer composites reinforced by aligned CNT arrays,
many investigators [4–8] have examined material properties of
carbon nanotube-reinforcement composites (CNTRC). Fidelus
et al. [9] investigated thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy-
based nanocomposites based on low weight fractions of randomly
oriented single- and multi-walled CNTs. Hu et al. [10] evaluated
the macroscopic elastic properties of carbon nanotube-reinforced
composites through analyzing the elastic deformation of a repre-
sentative volume element under various loading conditions. Using
molecular dynamics (MD), Han and Elliott [11] simulated the elas-
tic properties of polymer/carbon nanotube composites while Zhu
et al. [12] discussed the stress–strain curves for CNT-reinforced
Epon 862 composites. These studies showed that the addition of
a small amount of carbon nanotube can considerably improve
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 99256169; fax: +61 3 99256092.
E-mail address: j.yang@rmit.edu.au (J. Yang).
composites. Their results are very useful and can be applied to
the analysis of the global response of CNTRC in an actual structural
element. Wuite and Adali [13] presented a multi-scale analysis of
the deflection and stress behavior of CNT reinforced polymer com-
posite beams. The micromechanics models used in the study in-
clude straight CNTs aligned in one direction, randomly oriented
CNTs and a two parameter model of agglomeration. Vodenitchar-
ova and Zhang [14] studied the pure bending and bending-induced
local buckling of a nanocomposite beam reinforced by a single-
walled carbon nanotube. Recently, Salehi-Khojin and Jalili [15]
considered the buckling of boron nitride nanotube reinforced pie-
zoelectric polymeric composites subjected to combined electro-
thermo-mechanical loadings. Ray and Batra [16] proposed a new
1–3 piezoelectric composite comprised of armchair SWCNTs
embedded in a piezoceramic matrix for the active control of smart
structures.
It is well-known that the applications of CNTs to nanocompos-
ites have been hindered due to the weak interfacial bonding be-
tween CNTs and matrix. Functionally graded materials (FGMs)
are inhomogeneous composites characterized by smooth and con-
tinuous variations in both compositional profile and material prop-
erties and have found a wide range of applications in many
industries [17]. The static bending, elastic buckling, postbuckling,

0263-8223/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2009.09.024
 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683 677

linear and nonlinear free vibration of FGM structures have been V cnt þ V m ¼ 1: ð2Þ
extensively investigated [18–29]. By using the concept of FGM,
It is assumed that the volume fraction of carbon nanotube Vcnt
Shen [30] suggested that the interfacial bonding strength can be
varies linearly along the thickness, i.e.,
improved through the use of a graded distribution of CNTs in the  
matrix and examined the nonlinear bending behavior of simply 2z 
V cnt ¼ 1 V cnt ; ð3Þ
supported, functionally graded nanocomposite plates reinforced h
by SWCNTs subjected to a transverse uniform or sinusoidal load
where
in thermal environments.
The objective of the present work is to study the nonlinear free Kcnt
V cnt ¼ þ ðqcnt =qm Þ  ðqcnt =qm ÞKcnt ; ð4Þ
vibration of functionally graded nanocomposite beams reinforced Kcnt
by the SWCNT within the framework of Timoshenko beam theory
where Kcnt is the mass fraction of carbon nanotube, and qcnt and qm
and von Kármán geometric nonlinearity. The material properties of
are the densities of carbon nanotube and matrix, respectively. Note
the FG-CNTRC are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction
that V cnt ¼ V cnt corresponds to the uniformly distributed carbon
and estimated though the rule of mixture in which the CNT effi-
nanotube-reinforced composite (UD-CNTRC) as shown in Fig. 1b.
ciency parameter is determined by matching the elastic modulus
With Vcnt defined in Eq. (3), both the FG-CNTRC beam and UD-
of CNTRCs obtained from MD simulation with the numerical re-
CNTRC beam have the same value of CNT mass fraction.
sults calculated from the rule of mixture. The governing eigenvalue
Similarly, Poisson’s ratio v and mass density q can be calculated
equation is derived by using Ritz method and is then solved by a
by
direct iterative method to obtain the nonlinear vibration frequen-
cies of FG-CNTRC beams with different end supports. A detailed v ¼ V cnt v cnt þ V m v m ; ð5Þ
parametric study is conducted to gain an insight into the influences cnt m
q ¼ V cnt q þ V m q : ð6Þ
of nanotube volume fraction, vibration amplitude, slenderness ra-
cnt m
tio, end supports and CNT distribution on the nonlinear free vibra- where v and v are Poisson’s ratios of carbon nanotube and ma-
tion characteristics of FG-CNTRC beams. The results for UD-CNTRC trix, respectively.
beams are also obtained for comparison.
3. Nonlinear free vibration analysis
2. Functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites
3.1. Energy functional of the FG-CNTRC Timoshenko beam
Fig. 1 shows the CNTRCs of thickness h where the distribution of
CNTs is non-uniform and graded along the thickness direction in Consider an FG-CNTRC Timoshenko beam of length L and thick-
Fig. 1a (FG-CNTRC) and is uniform in Fig. 1b (UD-CNTRC), respec- ness h as shown in Fig. 2. In accordance with Timoshenko beam
theory, the axial displacement Uðx;e z; tÞ and transverse displace-
tively. It is assumed that the CNTRC is made from a mixture of
ment Wf ðx; z; tÞ are expressed as
SWCNT and an isotropic matrix. We first determine the effective
material properties of CNTRC. It was pointed out by many investi- e z; tÞ ¼ Uðx; tÞ þ zWðx; tÞ; f ðx; z; tÞ ¼ Wðx; tÞ;
Uðx; W ð7Þ
gators [11,31] that the material properties of the SWCNT and
CNTRC are anisotropic. According to the rule of mixture, the effec- where U(x, t) and W(x, t) are displacement components in the mid-
tive Young’s modulus and shear modulus of CNTRC can be ex- plane, W is the rotation of beam cross-section and t is time. The von
pressed as [30] Kármán type nonlinear strain–displacement relationships are given
by
E11 ¼ g1 V cnt Ecnt m
11 þ V m E ; ð1aÞ
 2
g2 V cnt V m @U @ W 1 @W @W
¼ þ m; ð1bÞ ex ¼ þz þ ; cxz ¼ þ W: ð8Þ
E22 Ecnt
22
E @x @x 2 @x @x
g3 V cnt V m
¼ þ m; ð1cÞ The normal stress rxx and shear stress sxz are related to strains
G12 Gcnt12
G
through linear elastic constitutive law as
where Ecnt cnt cnt
11 ; E22 and G12 are Young’s modulus and shear modulus,
"  2 #  
respectively, of the carbon nanotube; Em and Gm are the correspond- @U @ W 1 @W @W
rxx ¼ Q 11 ðzÞ þz þ ; rxz ¼ Q 55 ðzÞ þW ;
ing properties for the isotropic matrix; gj (j = 1, 2, 3) is the CNT effi- @x @x 2 @x @x
ciency parameter accounting for the scale-dependent material ð9Þ
properties and will be determined later by matching the elastic
modulus of CNTRCs observed from the MD simulation results with where
the numerical results obtained from the rule of mixture. Vcnt and Vm
are the volume fractions for carbon nanotube and matrix and are re- E11 ðzÞ
Q 11 ðzÞ ¼ ; Q 55 ðzÞ ¼ G12 ðzÞ: ð10Þ
lated by 1  v 2 ðzÞ

(a) (b)
x
x
y
y
h
h

z
z

Fig. 1. Geometry of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites: (a) FG-CNTRC and (b) UD-CNTRC.
678 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683

!
L A11 A55 B11 D11
g¼ ; ða11 ; a55 ; b11 ; d11 Þ ¼ ; ; ; ;
h A110 A110 A110 h A110 h2
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
I
x ¼ XL 10 ; ð18Þ
A110

where A110 and I10 are the values of A11 and I1 of a homogeneous
beam made from pure matrix material, the dimensionless form of
Eqs (15)–(17) can be expressed as
Z "  2  2
1
1 @u @u @w @w
V linear ¼ a11 þ 2b11 þ d11
2 0 @f @f @f @f
Fig. 2. Geometry of an FG-CNTRC beam.
  # 2
@w
þ a55 þ gw df; ð19Þ
@f
For the FG-CNTRC Timoshenko beam, the potential energy V
and kinetic energy T can be written as Z "  2  2  4 #
1
8 1 a11 @u @w b11 @w @w a11 @w
Z Z "  2 #2 V nonlinear ¼ þ þ 2 df;
1 L h=2 < @U @ W 1 @W 2 0 g @f @f g @f @f 4g @f
V¼ Q 11 þz þ
2 0 h=2 : @x @x 2 @x ð20Þ
 2 ) Z 
@W x2 1
þ Q 55 þW dzdx; ð11Þ T max ¼ ðI1 u2 þ 2I2 uw þ I3 w2 þ I1 w2 Þdf ; ð21Þ
@x 2 0

Z Z " 2  2 # where
L h=2
1 @U @W @W
T¼ q þz þ dzdx: ð12Þ
V linear V nonlinear T max
2
A110 h
2 @t @t @t
0 h=2 V linear ¼ ; V nonlinear ¼ ; T max ¼ ; D0 ¼ :
D0 D0 D0 L
Define the stiffness components and inertia related terms as ð22Þ
Z h=2
fA11 ; B11 ; D11 g ¼ Q 11 ðzÞf1; z; z2 gdz; The energy functional for the FG-CNTRC Timoshenko beam can
h=2 then be obtained as
Z h=2 Y
A55 ¼ jQ 55 ðzÞdz; ¼ V linear þ V nonlinear  T max : ð23Þ
h=2
Z h=2
fI1 ; I2 ; I3 g ¼ qðzÞf1; z; z2 gdz; ð13Þ 3.2. Ritz methods
h=2

where j = 5/6 is the shear correction factor. Expressing the poten- The Ritz method [32] is employed in the present study to derive
tial energies associated with the linear and nonlinear strain terms the governing eigenvalue equation for nonlinear free vibration of
in Eq. (8) as Vlinear and Vnonlinear, respectively, the maximum poten- FG-CNTRC Timoshenko beams. The beams with three different
tial energy Vmax of the FG-CNTRC beam can be re-written as end supports, i.e., hinged at both ends (H–H), clamped at both ends
V max ¼ V linear þ V nonlinear ; ð14Þ (C–C), or clamped at left end and hinged at right end (C–H) are con-
sidered. The Ritz trial functions that satisfy the geometric bound-
where ary conditions on both ends of the beams take the form of
Z  2 (  2
1 @U L
@U @ W @W 8
V linear ¼ A11
þ 2B11 þ D11 >
> P N
2 @x @x @x @x >
> uðfÞ ¼ Aj fj ð1  fÞ;
0 >
>
> j¼1
 2 ) >
>
<
@W PN
þ A55 þW dx; ð15Þ H—H beam : wðfÞ ¼ Bj fj ð1  fÞ; ð24aÞ
@x >
> j¼1
>
>
>
> P N
" >
> j1
Z L 2  2 >
: wðfÞ ¼ C j f ;
1 @U @W @ W1 @W j¼1
V nonlinear ¼ A11 þ B11 8
2 0 @x @x @x @x > PN
>
> uðfÞ ¼ Aj fj ð1  fÞ;
 4 # >
>
1 @W >
> j¼1
þ A11 dx: ð16Þ >
>
4 @x < P N
C—C beam : wðfÞ ¼ Bj fj ð1  fÞ; ð24bÞ
>
> j¼1
For a beam undergoing harmonic motion, its maximum kinetic >
>
>
> PN
energy Tmax can be written as >
> j
>
: wðfÞ ¼ C j f ð1  fÞ;
Z j¼1
X2 L
8
T max ¼ ðI1 U 2 þ 2I2 U W þ I3 W2 þ I1 W 2 Þdx; ð17Þ >
> PN
2 0 >
> uðfÞ ¼ Aj fj ð1  fÞ;
>
>
>
> j¼1
where X is the nonlinear frequency of the beam. >
< PN
By introducing the following dimensionless quantities C—H beam : wðfÞ ¼ Bj fj ð1  fÞ; ð24cÞ
! >
> j¼1
>
>
x ðU; WÞ I1 I2 I3 >
> PN
f¼ ; ðu; wÞ ¼ ; ðI1 ; I2 ; I3 Þ ¼ ; ; ; w ¼ W; >
> j
L h I10 I10 h I10 h2 >
: wðfÞ ¼ C j f ;
j¼1
 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683 679

where N is the total number of polynomial terms; Aj, Bj, Cj are un- After the nonlinear half-cycle frequencies x+ and x at positive
known coefficients. Substituting Eq. (24) into energy functional and negative deflection cycles is obtained, the corresponding the
(23), and applying a standard Ritz procedure to minimize the total periods C+ and C may be expressed as
energy functional with respect to unknown coefficients
p p
Q Q Q Cþ ¼ ; C ¼  : ð27Þ
@ @ @ xþ x
¼ 0; ¼ 0; ¼ 0; ð25Þ Finally, the nonlinear frequency of the FG-CNTRC beams is ob-
@Aj @Bj @C j
tained as
leads to nonlinear governing equation in matrix form 2p
x¼ : ð28Þ
  Cþ þ C
1 1
KL þ KNL1 þ KNL2 d  x2 Md ¼ 0; ð26Þ
2 3
4. Numerical results
 
T T
where d ¼ fAj gT fBj gT fC j g , j = 1, 2, . . ., N; M is the mass ma-
Table 1 compares the ffi dimensionless linear fundamental fre-
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
trix, KL is the linear stiffness matrix, KNL1 and KNL2 are nonlinear quencies x ¼ XL I10 =A110 of C–C, C–H and H–H FGM beams with
stiffness matrices that are linear and quadratic functions in d, varying total number of polynomial terms N in the trial functions.
respectively. KL, KNL1, KNL2 and M are 3N  3N symmetric matrices The parameters used in this example are E1 = 70 GPa, v1 = 0.33,
whose elements are given in Appendix A. q1 = 2780 kg/m3, E2/E1 = 5 and L/h = 6 where E1 and E2 denote
For nonlinear free vibration of FG-CNTRC beams, the energy bal- Young’s modulus at the top and bottom surfaces of the beam,
ance equation V  T = 0 must be satisfied at any time. It should be respectively. The analytical solutions given by Ke et al. [35] are also
noted that unlike UG-CNTRC and homogeneous isotropic beams, provided for a direct comparison. It is seen that the accuracy of the
an FG-CNTRC beam has bending-extension coupling effect (i.e. present results is improved with an increasing number of polyno-
B11 – 0) due to the unsymmetric material distribution in thickness mial terms and is monotonically convergent to analytical solutions
direction and there exist partial derivative terms with odd powers at N = 8 or 10. Hence, N = 8 is used in all of the following numerical

2
such as @@xW @W
@x
in Eq. (17). This implies that when @U @t
¼ @W
@t
¼ @@tW ¼ 0, calculations.
the energy balance equation does not yield equal and opposite Table 2 gives nonlinear frequency ratio xnl/xl at different max-
roots for FG-CNTRC beams while it produces equal and opposite imum vibration amplitudes Wmax/H for H–H, C–H and C–C isotro-
roots for both UG-CNTRC and homogeneous isotropic beams. The pic homogeneous beams with L/h = 100 and h = 0.3 in. Here,
similar phenomenon was also observed for cracked functionally pffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
H ¼ I=h is the radius of the gyration of the beam with I and A
graded beams by Kitipornchai et al. [29] and asymmetric cross- being the cross-section area and area moment of inertia, xnl and
ply composite beams by Singh and Rao [33,34]. xl are the dimensionless nonlinear and linear frequencies, respec-
It is clear from the above discussions that the nonlinear fre- tively. The present results agree very well with the finite element
quency of FG-CNTRC beams cannot be solved by directly using results [36].
the classic methods for homogeneous beams but can be obtained We next present the results for the nonlinear free vibration of
by computing the periods of both positive and negative deflection FG-CNTRC Timoshenko beam with different boundary conditions
cycles due to the fact that the energy required in each deflection in Tables 4–7, Figs. 3 and 4 where the results for UD-CNTRC coun-
cycle is same. The direct iterative method described below is used terparts are also given for a direct comparison. Linear fundamental
in this paper to solve the nonlinear free vibration problem in Eq. frequencies xl are listed In Tables 4–7 as well. Unless otherwise
(26) stated, the beam thickness h = 0.1 m, slenderness ratio L/h = 10,
V cnt ¼ 0:12; 0:17; 0:28. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is se-
Step 1: By neglecting the nonlinear matrices KNL1 and KNL2, a lected for the matrix material with v m ¼ 0:3, qm = 1190 kg/m3,
linear eigenvalue and the associated eigenvector are obtained Em = 2.5 GPa at room temperature (300 K). The armchair (10, 10)
from Eq. (26). The eigenvector is then appropriately scaled up
such that the maximum transverse displacement is equal to
the given vibration amplitude. First, the given amplitude wmax Table 1
is assumed to be positive. Note that for both clamped–clamped Dimensionless linear fundamental frequency of FGM beams.
and hinged–hinged beams, wmax = w(0.5), while for clamped- N H–H C–C C–H
hinged beams, wmax = w(0.53).
2 0.20364 0.95748 0.34784
Step 2: Using the obtained eigenvector to calculate KNL1 and 3 0.20362 0.37053 0.26160
KNL2, a new eigenvalue and eigenvector are obtained from the 5 0.18005 0.36936 0.26108
updated eigensystem (26). 8 0.17998 0.36934 0.26107
Step 3: The eigenvector is scaled up again and step 2 is repeated 10 0.17998 0.36934 0.26107
12 0.17998 0.36934 0.26107
until the relative error between eigenvalues obtained from two
Ref. [35] 0.17970 0.3686 –
consecutive iterations is within 0.1%. Then, the nonlinear half-
cycle frequency x+ is obtained for the positive deflection cycle.
Based on the amplitude and deformation in positive deflection
cycle, the energy V þ
max can be computed from Eqs. (19) and (20).
Step 4: For a negative vibration amplitude wmin, repeat steps 1– Table 2
Comparisons of nonlinear frequency ratio xnl/xl for isotropic homogeneous beams.
3 to find the energy V  max in negative deflection cycle. The non-
linear half-cycle frequency x- has been obtained for the nega- W max =H H–H C–C C–H
tive deflection cycle if V þ 
max ¼ V max , otherwise new values Present Ref. [36] Present Ref. [36] Present Ref. [36]
must be chosen for negative vibration amplitudes and the iter- 1.0 1.1192 1.1181 1.0303 1.0300 1.0592 1.0595
ation procedure is continued till the new negative amplitude 2.0 1.4180 1.4178 1.1152 1.1147 1.2179 1.2193
and deformation yield the same energy with that at positive 3.0 1.8092 1.8094 1.2419 1.2420 1.4402 1.4448
amplitude. 4.0 2.2451 2.2455 1.3983 1.3987 1.6958 1.6720
680 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683

Table 3 Table 6
Comparison of Young’s modulus for PMMA/CNT composites reinforced by (10, 10) Dimensionless nonlinear frequency ratio xnl/xl for C–H CNTRC beams (L/h = 10).
SWCNT at the temperature T0 = 300 K.
V cnt xl wmax
V cnt MD (Ref. [11]) Rule of mixture
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
E11 (GPa) E22 (GPa) E11 (GPa) g1 E22 (GPa) g2
FG-CNTRC 0.12 1.3944 1.0160 1.0621 1.1396 1.2417 1.3519
0.12 94.6 2.9 94.6 1.2833 2.9 1.0556 0.17 1.7641 1.0139 1.0554 1.1243 1.2149 1.3174
0.17 138.9 4.9 138.9 1.3414 4.9 1.7101 0.28 2.0318 1.0164 1.0646 1.1436 1.2488 1.3629
0.28 224.2 5.5 224.2 1.3238 5.5 1.7380
UD-CNTRC 0.12 1.4556 1.0207 1.0805 1.1735 1.2927 1.4303
0.17 1.8506 1.0187 1.0727 1.1570 1.2657 1.3922
0.28 2.0814 1.0231 1.0895 1.19203 1.3229 1.4749

Table 4
Dimensionless nonlinear frequency ratio xnl/xl for H–H CNTRC beams (L/h = 10).
Table 7
V cnt xl wmax
Effect of slenderness ratio L/h on nonlinear frequency ratio xnl/xl of C–C CNTRC
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 beams ðV cnt ¼ 0:12Þ.
FG-CNTRC 0.12 1.2296 1.0061 1.0320 1.0873 1.1786 1.2999 L/h xl wmax
0.17 1.5327 1.0046 1.0255 1.0765 1.1584 1.2725
0.28 1.8089 1.0067 1.0333 1.0942 1.1886 1.3138 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

UD-CNTRC 0.12 1.2576 1.0278 1.1070 1.2278 1.3791 1.5522 FG-CNTRC 10 1.6063 1.0165 1.0646 1.1405 1.2397 1.3582
0.17 1.5695 1.0259 1.1000 1.2135 1.3565 1.5206 15 1.4061 1.0098 1.0386 1.0846 1.14608 1.2203
0.28 1.8297 1.0299 1.1151 1.2439 1.4046 1.5874 20 1.2200 1.0075 1.0299 1.0659 1.1141 1.1729
30 0.9333 1.0062 1.0244 1.0539 1.0935 1.1420
40 0.7422 1.0057 1.0226 1.0501 1.0872 1.1326
UD-CNTRC 10 1.6678 1.0154 1.0605 1.1318 1.2251 1.3381
15 1.5075 1.0084 1.0334 1.0736 1.1275 1.1935
Table 5 20 1.3444 1.0061 1.0242 1.0536 1.0933 1.1422
Dimensionless nonlinear frequency ratio xnl/xl for C–C CNTRC beams (L/h = 10). 30 1.0671 1.0045 1.0181 1.0403 1.0704 1.1077
40 0.8657 1.0042 1.0163 1.0363 1.0634 1.0970
V cnt xl wmax
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
FG-CNTRC 0.12 1.6063 1.0165 1.0646 1.1405 1.2397 1.3582 ratio decrease as slenderness ratio increases. At the same slender-
0.17 2.0557 1.0146 1.0574 1.1252 1.2143 1.3204
ness ratio, the FG-CNTRC beam has a lower linear frequency but a
0.28 2.3250 1.0179 1.0701 1.1521 1.2587 1.3887
higher nonlinear frequency ratio than the UG-CNTRC beam. The ef-
UD-CNTRC 0.12 1.6678 1.0154 1.0605 1.1318 1.2251 1.3381
fect of slenderness ratio on the nonlinear frequency ratio tends to
0.17 2.1423 1.0136 1.0533 1.1165 1.2001 1.3036
0.28 2.3624 1.0176 1.0687 1.1490 1.2544 1.3829
be very small for long CNTRC beams ðL=h P 30Þ. The results of H–
H and C–H beams are very similar to those of C–C beams and there-
fore, are not shown for brevity.
Fig. 3 plots the nonlinear frequency ratio versus dimensionless
SWCNTs are used as the reinforcements with Ecnt 11 ¼ 600 GPa,
amplitude curves for CNTRC beams with L/h = 10. Results show
Ecnt
22 ¼ 10 GPa and v
cnt
= 0.19. Han and Elliott [11] obtained the elas-
that at vibration amplitudes of same magnitude but opposite sign,
tic properties of this type of PMMA/CNT composites through MD
nonlinear frequency ratios of H–H and C–H FG-CNTRC beams are
simulation. Since CNT efficiency parameters gj (j = 1, 2, 3) need
different, i.e., the curves are unsymmetrical. This is, as discussed
to be determined before the effective material properties of the
before, due to the bending-stretching coupling effect that makes
FG-CNTRC beam can be calculated using the rule of mixture, we
energy balance equation does not yield equal and opposite roots.
estimate the CNT efficiency parameters g1 and g2 by matching
For C–C FG-CNTRC beams and all UD-CNTRC beams, the nonlinear
the Young’s moduli Ecnt cnt
11 and E22 of CNTRCs obtained by the rule
frequency ratio is independent of the sign of vibration amplitude
of mixture to those given by Han and Elliott [11]. It is shown in
hence, their curves are symmetrical. It can also be observed that
Table 3 that the Young’s moduli obtained from the rule of mixture
the difference between the curves for FG-CNTRC beams and UD-
and MD simulation can match very well if g1 and g2 are properly
CNTRC beams is great for H–H beam while is relatively small for
chosen, and the efficiency parameters will change with CNT vol-
C–C and C–H beams.
ume fractions. As there are no MD results available for shear mod-
Fig. 4 gives nonlinear fundamental mode shapes for CNTRC
ulus G12 in Ref. [11], it is assumed g3 = g2.
beams with various V cnt at wmax = 0.4. It is found that the nanotube
Tables 4–6 gives the nonlinear fundamental frequency ratio xnl/
volume fraction V cnt has an insignificant effect on the nonlinear
xl for H–H, C–H and C–C CNTRC beams with V cnt ¼ 0:12; 0:17; 0:28.
mode shape for all beams. The mode shapes of FG-CNTRC beams
All these beams exhibit a typical ‘hard-spring’ behavior, i.e., the
are very close to those of UD-CNTRC beams. The maximum ampli-
nonlinear frequency increases as the vibration amplitude in-
tude occurs at the midpoint of the H–H and C–C beams but not for
creases. An increase in the nanotube volume fraction V cnt leads to
the C–H beam.
higher linear and nonlinear frequencies for both UD- and FG-
In order to examine the effect of different CNT distributions on
CNTRC beams. Both linear and nonlinear frequencies of UD-CNTRC
both linear and nonlinear frequencies of FG-CNTRC beams, a sym-
beams are larger than those of FG-CNTRC beams. This is because
metrically linear distribution of CNT volume fraction Vcnt is
the UD-CNTRC beam contains more CNTs hence is stiffer and stron-
considered
ger than its FG-CNTRC counterpart. The nonlinear frequency ratio
of H–H and C–H UD-CNTRC beams is larger than that of FG-CNTRC 4jzj 
V cnt ¼ V ð29Þ
beams but the results for C–C CNTRC show the other way around. h cnt
Table 7 shows the effect of slenderness ratio L/h on the linear
It is evident from Eq. (29) that this FG-CNTRC beam has the
frequency and nonlinear frequency ratio of clamped–clamped
same and largest CNT volume fraction on the top and bottom
CNTRC beam with V cnt ¼ 0:12. Both linear and nonlinear frequency
surfaces (z = ± h/2) but Vcnt = 0 at the neutral plane (z = 0). Fig. 5
 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683 681

(a) 1.6 (a) 0.4

FG: UD:
* *
V cnt = 0.12 V cnt = 0.12
* *
V cnt = 0.17 V cnt = 0.17 0.3
* *
1.4 V cnt = 0.28 V cnt = 0.28
ωnl/ωl

0.2

w
1.2 FG:
* UD:
0.1 V cnt = 0.12 *
*
V cnt = 0.12
V cnt = 0.17 *
*
V cnt = 0.17
V cnt = 0.28 *
V cnt = 0.28
1.0 0.0
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.0 0 .2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
wmin wmax x/L

(b) (b) 0.4

1.4
FG: UD:
* *
V cnt = 0.12 V cnt = 0.12
*
V cnt = 0.17 * 0.3
1.3 V cnt = 0.17
* *
V cnt = 0.28 V cnt = 0.28

w 0.2
ωnl/ωl

1.2
FG:
* UD:
0.1 V cnt = 0.12 *
*
V cnt = 0.12
1.1 V cnt = 0.17 *
*
V cnt = 0.17
V cnt = 0.28 *
V cnt = 0.28
0.0
1.0 0.0 0 .2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
x/L
wmin wmax
(c) 0.4
(c) 1.5
FG: UD:
* *
V cnt = 0.12 V cnt = 0.12
1.4 * *
0.3
V cnt = 0.17 V cnt = 0.17
* *
V cnt = 0.28 V cnt = 0.28
1.3
w

0.2
ωnl/ωl

1.2 FG:
* UD:
0.1 V cnt = 0.12 *
*
V cnt = 0.12
V cnt = 0.17 *
1.1 *
V cnt = 0.17
V cnt = 0.28 *
V cnt = 0.28
0.0
1.0 0.0 0 .2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 x/L
wmin wmax
Fig. 4. Nonlinear mode shapes of CNTRC beams at wmax ¼ 0:4: (a) H–H, (b) C–C and
(c) C–H.
Fig. 3. Nonlinear frequency ratio versus amplitude curves for CNTRC beams: (a) H–
H, (b) C–C and (c) C–H.

those in case 1 and UD-CNTRC. This is because case 2 makes better

compares the linear fundamental frequencies xl and the nonlinear
frequency ratio versus dimensionless amplitude curves for H–H, C–
H and C–C FG-CNTRC beams ðV cnt ¼ 0:12Þ with different CNT distri-
butions, where cases 1 and 2 stands for unsymmetrical distribution
(Eq. (3)) and symmetrical distribution (Eq. (29)), respectively. It
should be mentioned that these two FG-CNTRC beams and the
UD-CNTRC beam have the same CNT mass fraction. It is observed
that both linear and nonlinear frequencies in case 2 are higher than
use of CNTs with more CNTs distributed in high bending stress re-
gions and much less CNTs in low stress regions close to the neutral
axis. Its bending stiffness, therefore, is larger than case 1 and UD-
CNTRC. Numerical results also show that at a given nonlinear fre-
quency ratio, beams reinforced by symmetrically or uniformly dis-
tributed CNTs vibrate with the same positive and negative
amplitudes due to the absence of bending-extension coupling in
these two beams.
682 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683

frequencies of FG-CNTRC beams with different end supports. The

(a) 1.6 effects of CNT volume fraction, vibration amplitude, slenderness
case1: ωl = 1.2296
ratio, end supports and CNT distribution on the nonlinear free
case2: ωl = 1.3852
vibration characteristics of FG-CNTRC beams are discussed in de-
UD : ωl = 1.2576
tail. Numerical results show that:
1.4
(1) An increase in CNT volume fraction V cnt leads to higher lin-
ωnl/ωl

ear and nonlinear frequencies for both UD- and FG-CNTRC

beams;
(2) Both linear and nonlinear frequencies of FG-CNTRC beam
1.2 with symmetrical distribution of CNTs are higher than those
of beams with uniform or unsymmetrical distribution of
CNTs;
(3) Nonlinear frequency ratios of both H–H and C–H FG-CNTRC
1.0 beams are dependent of the sign of the vibration amplitudes,
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 i.e., their nonlinear frequency ratio versus amplitude curves
wmin wmax are unsymmetrical;
(4) The nonlinear frequency ratios of C–C beam, UD-CNTRC
(b) beam and symmetrically CNT reinforced FG-CNTRC beam
1.4 are independent of the sign of vibration amplitude and their
case1: ωl = 1.6063
curves are symmetrical.
case2: ωl = 1.7230
UD: ωl = 1.6678
1.3
Appendix A
ωnl/ωl

1.2 Re-write trial functions in Eq. (24) in the following form

X
N X
N X
N
uðfÞ ¼ Aj N1j ; wðfÞ ¼ Bj N1j ; wðfÞ ¼ C j N2j ; ðA1Þ
j¼1 j¼1 j¼1
1.1
The elements of symmetric linear stiffness matrix ½KL 3N3N are
Z 1
@ N1j @ N1m
1.0 ½KL ðj;mÞ ¼ a11 df; ½KL ðj;NþmÞ ¼ 0;
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 @f @f
Z 1
wmin wmax @ N2j @ N1m
½KL ðj;2NþmÞ ¼ b11 df;
0 @f @f
Z
(c) 1.5
1
@ N1j
case1: ωl = 1.3944 ½KL ðNþj;NþmÞ ¼ a55 g N1m df;
0 @f
case2: ωl = 1.5385 Z 1
1.4 UD: ωl = 1.4556 @ N1m
½KL ðNþj;2NþmÞ ¼ a55 gN2j df;
0 @f
Z 1
@ N2j @ N2m
1.3 ½KL ð2Nþj;2NþmÞ ¼ ðd11 þ a55 g2 N2j N2m Þdf:
@f @f
ωnl/ωl

1.2 The elements of the symmetric mass matrix ½M3N3N are

Z 1

1.1 ½Mðj;mÞ ¼ I1 N1j N1m df; ½Mðj;NþmÞ ¼ 0;

0
Z 1
½Mðj;2NþmÞ ¼ I2 N2j N1m df;
1.0 0
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 Z 1
wmin wmax ½MðNþj;NþmÞ ¼ I1 N1j N1m df; ½MðNþj;2NþmÞ ¼ 0;
0
Z 1
Fig. 5. Effect of CNT distribution on the nonlinear frequency ratio versus dimen-
sionless amplitude curves of the CNTRC beams with V cnt ¼ 0:12: (a) H–H, (b) C–C ½Mð2Nþj;2NþmÞ ¼ I3 N2j N2m df:
0
and (c) C–H.
The elements of the symmetric nonlinear stiffness matrices
½KNL1 3N3N and ½KNL2 3N3N are
5. Conclusions ½KNL1 ðj;mÞ ¼ 0;
Z 1
The nonlinear free vibration of FG-CNTRC beams is studied a11 @w @ N1j @ N1m
½KNL1 ðj;2NþmÞ ¼ df;
within the framework of Timoshenko beam theory and von g 0 @f @f @f
Kármán type displacement–strain relationship. The material prop- ½KNL1 ðj;2NþmÞ ¼ 0;
erties of FG-CNTRC are assumed to be graded in the thickness and Z 1  
1 @u @ N1j @ N1m @w @ N1j @ N1m
estimated though the rule of mixture. The Ritz method and a direct ½KNL1 ðNþj;NþmÞ ¼ a11 þ b11 df;
iterative method are employed to obtain the nonlinear vibration
g 0 @f @f @f @f @f @f
 L.-L. Ke et al. / Composite Structures 92 (2010) 676–683 683

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