Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory

This work analyzes the aero-elastic oscillations of cantilever beams reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Four different distributions of single-walled CNTs are assumed as the reinforcing phase, in the thickness direction of the polymeric matrix. A modified third-order piston theory is used as an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mehdi Alimoradzadeh, Francesco Tornabene, Rossana Dimitri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8700
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849239772018507776
author Mehdi Alimoradzadeh
Francesco Tornabene
Rossana Dimitri
author_facet Mehdi Alimoradzadeh
Francesco Tornabene
Rossana Dimitri
author_sort Mehdi Alimoradzadeh
collection DOAJ
description This work analyzes the aero-elastic oscillations of cantilever beams reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Four different distributions of single-walled CNTs are assumed as the reinforcing phase, in the thickness direction of the polymeric matrix. A modified third-order piston theory is used as an accurate tool to model the supersonic air flow, rather than a first-order piston theory. The nonlinear dynamic equation governing the problem accounts for Von Kármán-type nonlinearities, and it is derived from Hamilton’s principle. Then, the Galerkin decomposition technique is adopted to discretize the nonlinear partial differential equation into a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. This is solved analytically according to a multiple time scale method. A comprehensive parametric analysis was conducted to assess the influence of CNT volume fraction, beam slenderness, Mach number, and thickness ratio on the fundamental frequency and lateral dynamic deflection. Results indicate that FG-X reinforcement yields the highest frequency response and lateral deflection, followed by UD and FG-A patterns, whereas FG-O consistently exhibits the lowest performance metrics. An increase in CNT volume fraction and a reduction in slenderness ratio enhance the system’s stiffness and frequency response up to a critical threshold, beyond which a damped beating phenomenon emerges. Moreover, higher Mach numbers and greater thickness ratios significantly amplify both frequency response and lateral deflections, although damping rates tend to decrease. These findings provide valuable insights into the optimization of CNTR composite structures for advanced aeroelastic applications under supersonic conditions, as useful for many engineering applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-e5b2a4555f2a4e2c8d2d30a6c277241d
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-e5b2a4555f2a4e2c8d2d30a6c277241d2025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-08-011515870010.3390/app15158700Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston TheoryMehdi Alimoradzadeh0Francesco Tornabene1Rossana Dimitri2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad 8514143131, IranDepartment of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, ItalyThis work analyzes the aero-elastic oscillations of cantilever beams reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Four different distributions of single-walled CNTs are assumed as the reinforcing phase, in the thickness direction of the polymeric matrix. A modified third-order piston theory is used as an accurate tool to model the supersonic air flow, rather than a first-order piston theory. The nonlinear dynamic equation governing the problem accounts for Von Kármán-type nonlinearities, and it is derived from Hamilton’s principle. Then, the Galerkin decomposition technique is adopted to discretize the nonlinear partial differential equation into a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. This is solved analytically according to a multiple time scale method. A comprehensive parametric analysis was conducted to assess the influence of CNT volume fraction, beam slenderness, Mach number, and thickness ratio on the fundamental frequency and lateral dynamic deflection. Results indicate that FG-X reinforcement yields the highest frequency response and lateral deflection, followed by UD and FG-A patterns, whereas FG-O consistently exhibits the lowest performance metrics. An increase in CNT volume fraction and a reduction in slenderness ratio enhance the system’s stiffness and frequency response up to a critical threshold, beyond which a damped beating phenomenon emerges. Moreover, higher Mach numbers and greater thickness ratios significantly amplify both frequency response and lateral deflections, although damping rates tend to decrease. These findings provide valuable insights into the optimization of CNTR composite structures for advanced aeroelastic applications under supersonic conditions, as useful for many engineering applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8700carbon nanotubesEuler–Bernoulli beam theorymodified third-order piston theorymultiple time scale methodnonlinear vibrationsupersonic flow
spellingShingle Mehdi Alimoradzadeh
Francesco Tornabene
Rossana Dimitri
Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory
Applied Sciences
carbon nanotubes
Euler–Bernoulli beam theory
modified third-order piston theory
multiple time scale method
nonlinear vibration
supersonic flow
title Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory
title_full Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory
title_fullStr Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory
title_full_unstemmed Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory
title_short Aeroelastic Oscillations of Cantilever Beams Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes Based on a Modified Third-Order Piston Theory
title_sort aeroelastic oscillations of cantilever beams reinforced by carbon nanotubes based on a modified third order piston theory
topic carbon nanotubes
Euler–Bernoulli beam theory
modified third-order piston theory
multiple time scale method
nonlinear vibration
supersonic flow
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8700
work_keys_str_mv AT mehdialimoradzadeh aeroelasticoscillationsofcantileverbeamsreinforcedbycarbonnanotubesbasedonamodifiedthirdorderpistontheory
AT francescotornabene aeroelasticoscillationsofcantileverbeamsreinforcedbycarbonnanotubesbasedonamodifiedthirdorderpistontheory
AT rossanadimitri aeroelasticoscillationsofcantileverbeamsreinforcedbycarbonnanotubesbasedonamodifiedthirdorderpistontheory