Static analysis of piezoelectric functionally graded porous plates reinforced by graphene platelets

In this study, for the first time an isogeometric finite element formulation for bending analysis of functionally graded porous (FGP) plates reinforced by graphene platelets (GPLs) embedded in piezoelectric layers is presented. It is named as PFGP-GPLs for a short. The plates are constituted by a core layer, which contains the internal pores and GPLs dispersed in the metal matrix either uniformly or non-uniformly according to three different patterns, and two piezoelectric layers perfectly bonded on the top and bottom surfaces of host plate. The modified Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model is used to estimate the effective mechanical properties which vary continuously along thickness direction of the core layer. In addition, the electric potential is assumed to vary linearly through the thickness for each piezoelectric sublayer. A generalized C0-type higher-order shear deformation theory (C0-HSDT) in association with isogeometric analysis (IGA) is investigated. The effects of weight fractions and dispersion patterns of GPLs, the coefficient and distribution types of porosity as well as external electrical voltages on structure’s behaviors are investigated through several numerical examples. Keywords: piezoelectric materials; FG-porous plate; graphene platelet reinforcements; isogeometric analysis.