A new analytical approach for nonlinear buckling and postbuckling of torsion-loaded FG-CNTRC sandwich toroidal shell segments with corrugated core in thermal environments

Abstract

The design of the torsion-loaded toroidal shell segment with two functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) coatings and the corrugated core is presented. Round and trapezoidal shapes of the corrugated core are considered. A homogenization model for the corrugated core is applied to predict the stiffnesses of the corrugated core. The total potential energy equation, according to the Donnell shell theory, is established. The Ritz energy method is applied to determine the expressions of the buckling and postbuckling responses. The numerical investigations present the significantly beneficial effects of FG-CNTRC coatings and corrugated core on the buckling responses of the shells.