Thermo-elastic analysis of functionally graded graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) reinforced closed cylindrical shells

This paper investigates, for the first time, the thermo-elastic responses of a functionally graded (FG) graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) closed cylindrical shell under a temperature field due to steady-state thermal conduction along thickness direction. A comprehensive thermo-elastic model covering various thermal boundary conditions (TBCs) is established. Analytical solutions for both radial stress and hoop stress of the shell are derived based on the plane hypothesis and displacement continuity conditions between the cylindrical shell and hemispherical ends. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of GPL distribution pattern, weight fraction and geometry as well as TBCs on thermal stresses and deformation of the shell. It is found that GPL distributions V and O are preferred patterns for both FG-GPLRC cylindrical shell and hemispherical ends, respectively. The closed FG-X-GPLRC cylindrical shell with higher GPL concentration has higher thermal conductivity consequently higher thermal stresses. The research findings are of practical importance for the applications and design of closed FG-GPLRC shells in a variety of engineering sectors.