Aerodynamic and Free Vibration Analyses of Metal Foams Reinforced Graphene Nanoplatelets Sector Plates

In this research, aerodynamic and vibrational behaviors of sector plates made from metal foams reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets are considered. Metal foams are a new and advanced branch of porous materials and their main advantage is their high stiffness to density ratio. Although due to their lightweight, metal foams are welcomed nowadays, this causes a decrease in their strength and is one of their main weaknesses that by adding nanoparticles, this weakness is eliminated. Today, graphene nanoplatelets are known as one of the best reinforcements. Under Gaussian random field for closed-cell cellular solids, the effective properties of the matrix are obtained and by employing two Halpin-Tsai and rule of mixture micromechanical models, elasticity modulus and other mechanical properties of the plate are determined. Pores distribution and also graphene nanoplatelets dispersion through the thickness direction, each is based on three different patterns and their effect on the vibrational behavior of the under consideration model is observed. With the aid of the variational approach and Hamilton’s principle, the governing equation and associated boundary conditions are derived and solved numerically, and the effect of different parameters such as pores distribution, nanoparticles dispersion and other important parameters on the results is discussed.