Buckling analysis of composite plates surface bonded with graphene-reinforced piezoelectric actuators

Graphene is a highly conductive and exceptional material that has shown potential for significantly improving the piezoelectric and mechanical properties of piezoelectric matrix. This paper examines the stability of composite plates surface bonded with graphene-reinforced composite piezoelectric (GRCP) actuators. However, the significant differences in material characteristics at the interfaces will pose some challenges in analyzing the buckling behavior of piezoelectric composite plates by means of existing higher-order shear deformation theories. To address this issue, a refined plate theory is developed for the buckling analysis of piezoelectric composite plates. The developed theory includes a new interlaminar shear stress field that precisely describes the distribution of interlaminar shear stresses, which differs from earlier higher-order theories. It should be emphasized that the finite element formulation can be simplified by removing the second-order derivatives of in-plane displacement parameters from interlaminar shear stresses. In terms of the developed theory, a four-node C-0 quadrilateral plate element is introduced to examine the buckling behavior of piezoelectric composite plates. Furthermore, the modified interlaminar shear stress field is absorbed into the strain energy, significantly improving the ability to predict the critical loads of composite plates with GRCP actuators. The refined plate model is evaluated through the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) elasticity solutions and results obtained from other associated theories. Numerical results demonstrate that the refined plate model is capable of producing favorable results, and a comprehensive examination is conducted to analyze the effects of significant parameters on the buckling behaviors of piezoelectric composite plates. This study sets a solid foundation for future research and development on the application of graphene-reinforced composite piezoelectric actuators in composite structures.