LAUSR

ABSTRACT In this study, the nonlinear thermo-elastic bending analysis of a functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite plate resting on two parameter elastic foundations is investigated. The material properties of the carbon nanotube-reinforced composite plates are assumed to be temperature dependent and graded in the thickness direction. The nonlinear formulations are based on a first-order shear deformation plate theory and large deflection von Karman equations. A dynamic relaxation method is employed to solve the plate nonlinear partial differential equations. The effects of volume fraction of carbon nanotubes, thermal gradient, temperature dependency, elastic foundation, boundary conditions, plate width-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio, and carbon nanotubes distribution are studied in detail.