Non-Linear Response of Torsional Buckling Piezoelectric Cylindrical Shell Reinforced with DWBNNTs Under Combination of Electro-Thermo-Mechanical Loadings in Elastic Foundation

Nanocomposites provide new properties and exploit unique synergism between materials. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is an ideal piezoelectric matrix applicable in nanocomposites in a broad range of industries from oil and gas to electronics and automotive. And boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) show high mechanical, electrical and chemical properties. In this paper, the critical torsional load of a composite tube made of PVDF reinforced with double-walled BNNTs is investigated, under a combination of electro-thermo-mechanical loading. First, a nanocomposite smart tube is modeled as an isotropic cylindrical shell in an elastic foundation. Next, employing the classical shell theory, strain-displacement equations are derived so loads and moments are obtained. Then, the total energy equation is determined, consisting of strain energy of shell, energy due to external work, and energy due to elastic foundation. Additionally, equilibrium equations are derived in cylindrical coordinates as triply orthogonal, utilizing Euler equations; subsequently, stability equations are developed through the equivalent method in adjacent points. The developed equations are solved using the wave technique to achieve critical torsional torque. Results indicated that critical torsional buckling load occurred in axial half-wave number m = 24 and circumferential wave number n = 1, for the investigated cylindrical shell. The results also showed that with the increase in the length-to-radius ratio and in the radius-to-shell thickness ratio, the critical torsional buckling load increased and decreased, respectively. Lastly, results are compared in various states through a numerical method. Moreover, stability equations are validated via comparison with the shell and sheet equations in the literature.