Nonlinear Thermomechanical Low-Velocity Impact Behaviors of Geometrically Imperfect GRC Beams

This paper studies the thermomechanical low-velocity impact behaviors of geometrically imperfect nanoplatelet-reinforced composite (GRC) beams considering the von Kármán nonlinear geometric relationship. The graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) are assumed to have a functionally graded (FG) distribution in the matrix beam along its thickness, following the X-pattern. The Halpin-Tsai model and the rule of mixture are employed to predict the effective Young modulus and other material properties. Dividing the impact process into two stages, the corresponding impact forces are calculated using the modified nonlinear Hertz contact law. The nonlinear governing equations are obtained by introducing the von Kármán nonlinear displacement-strain relationship into the first-order shear deformation theory and dispersed via the differential quadrature (DQ) method. Combining the governing equation of the impactor's motion, they are further parametrically solved by the Newmark-β method associated with the Newton-Raphson iterative process. The influence of different types of geometrical imperfections on the nonlinear thermomechanical low-velocity impact behaviors of GRC beams with varying weight fractions of GPLs, subjected to different initial impact velocities, are studied in detail.