Modeling and solution of the buckling problem of axially loaded laminated nanocomposite truncated conical shells in thermal environments

Abstract In this study, the modeling and solution of buckling problem of axially loaded laminated truncated conical shells (LTCSs) consisting of functionally graded (FG) nanocomposite plies (NCPs) in thermal environments are investigated in the framework extended shear deformation theory (ST). The effective material properties and thermal expansion coefficients of each NCPs are computed using extended rule‐of mixture (ROM) method and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques. Basic relations and equations for LTCSs consisting of NCPs in thermal environments are derived and solved to find the expression for the dimensionless critical axial load (DCAL). The numerical results of the theoretical approach are compared with reliable results found in the literature obtained using a different methodology. Finally, the effects of thermal environments, NCP models, shear stresses and lay‐up on the DCAL of LCTSs are studied.