THERMAL SCIENCE

International Scientific Journal

Jiahe Zhao

,

Zhang Yu

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF LAYERED AND FUNCTIONAL GRAPHENE MATERIAL DISTRIBUTIONS UNDER THERMO-MECHANICAL LOADING

ABSTRACT
Current research efforts have yet to comprehensively compare the thermome-chanical performance disparities between layered and power-law graded graphene-reinforced composites, particularly regarding structural optimization under operational constraints. To address this gap, this investigation establishes a model methodology for composite analysis, synergistically integrating the Halpin-Tsai micromechanical constitutive modeling framework with Maxwell-Eucken multiphase homogenization principles. A non-linear finite element framework was established based on the simplified first-order shear deformation theory (S-FSDT), and the numerical solution of the bending response of the plate is obtained by Newton-Raphson iteration. The proposed models were validated against existing literature. A systematic study was conducted on the thermodynamic coupling properties of layered and power-law graded graphene distributions with various pore types. Parametric comparisons showed that symmetric surface-enriched distributions achieved optimal performance in all configurations. The power-law graded type demonstrated superior reinforcement efficacy over the layered design. This study reveals the synergy between pore distribution and graphene gradient design, offering theoretical support for optimizing lightweight high-stiffness composites.
KEYWORDS
Layered graphene, Power-law graded graphene, S-FSDT, Thermo-Mechanical loads, FEM
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2025-06-01
PAPER REVISED: 2025-06-01
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2025-07-01
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2025-09-13
DOI REFERENCE: https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI250410150Z
CITATION EXPORT: view in browser or download as text file
THERMAL SCIENCE YEAR 2025, VOLUME 29, ISSUE No. 5, PAGES [4129 - 4145]
REFERENCES
[1] Lee, C., et al., Measurement of the Elastic Properties and Intrinsic Strength of Monolayer Graphene, Science, 321 (2008), 5887, pp. 385-388, 10.1126/science.1157996
[2] Ma, R., et al., Multidimensional Graphene Structures and Beyond: Unique Properties, Syntheses and Applications, Progress in Materials Science, 113 (2020), 100665, 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2020.100665
[3] Zhao, S., et al., Functionally Graded Graphene Reinforced Composite Structures: A Review, Engineering Structures, 210 (2020), 110339, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110339
[4] Song, M., et al., Free and Forced Vibrations of Functionally Graded Polymer Composite Plates Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets, Composite Structures, 159 (2017), Jan., pp. 579-588, 10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.09.070
[5] Tao, C., Ting, D., Postbuckling of Multilayer Cylindrical and Spherical Shell Panels Reinforced with Graphene Platelet by Isogeometric Analysis, Engineering with Computers, 38 (2021), Mar., pp. 1885-1900, 10.1007/s00366-021-01360-4
[6] Thai, C. H., et al., Free Vibration, Buckling and Bending Analyses of Multilayer Functionally Graded Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforced Composite Plates Using the NURBS Formulation, Composite Structures, 220 (2019), Julz, pp. 749-759, 10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.03.100
[7] Jin, Q., et al., A Refined Plate Theory for Functionally Graded Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Plates with Piezoelectric Actuator, European Journal of Mechanics-A/Solids, 90 (2021), 104358, 10.1016/j.euromechsol.2021.104358
[8] Nguyen, V.-L., et al., Investigation of Static Buckling and Bending of Nanoplates Made of New Func-tionally Graded Materials Considering Surface Effects on an Elastic Foundation, Acta Mechanica, 235 (2024), Oct., pp. 7807-7833, 10.1007/s00707-024-04127-2
[9] Van, D., et al., Nonlinear Thermal Buckling Analysis of Temperature-Dependent Porous Annular and Circular Microplates Reinforced by Graphene Platelets by Using Isogeometric Analysis Method, Engi-neering Structures, 305 (2024), 117738, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.117738
[10] Zhang, Y.-W., She, G.-L., Combined Resonance of Graphene Platelets Reinforced Metal Foams Cylin-drical Shells with Spinning Motion Under Nonlinear Forced Vibration, Engineering Structures, 300 (2024), 117177, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.117177
[11] Liu, T., et al., Nonlinear Thermal-Mechanical Coupled Isogeometric Analysis for GPLs Reinforced Functionally Graded Porous Plates, Engineering Structures, 319 (2024), 118827, 10.1002/(sici)1097-0207(20000110/30)47:1/3<663::aid-nme787>3.0.co;2-8
[12] Liu, T., et al., Bi-Nonlinear Isogeometric Analysis of Graphene Platelets Reinforced Functionally Graded Porous Plates Bonded with Piezoelectrics, Composite Structures, 306 (2023), 116569, 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.116569
[13] Chen, C., et al., Thermal Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Graphene Platelets-Reinforced Porous Beams Using the Transfer Function Method, Engineering Structures, 284 (2023), 115963, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.115963
[14] Zhang, Y., et al., Nonlinear Frequency Analysis of Piezoelectric Functionally Graded Porous Plates Reinforced by Graphene Platelets Under Thermo-Electro-Mechanical Loads, Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, On-line first, , 2025, 10.1080/15376494.2025.2456686
[15] Le, D. M., et al., Nonlocal Nonlinear Vibration of porous graphene platelets microplates under nonlinear temperature rises using modified couple stress theory based on Bézier Extraction of NURBS, Archive ofApplied Mechanics, 94 (2024), Maz, pp. 1807-1827, 10.1007/s00419-024-02612-7
[16] Huang, T., et al., Free Vibration Analysis of Spinning Sandwich Annular Plates with Functionally Graded Graphene Nanoplatelet Reinforced Porous Core, Materials, 15 (2022), 4, 1328, 10.3390/ma15041328
[17] Song, M., et al., Thermal Buckling and Postbuckling of Edge-Cracked Functionally Graded Multilayer Graphene Nanocomposite Beams on an Elastic Foundation, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 161 (2019), 105040, 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2019.105040
[18] Song, M., et al., Free Vibration and Buckling Analyses of Edge-Cracked Functionally Graded Multilayer Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Composite Beams Resting on an Elastic Foundation, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 458 (2019), Oct., pp. 89-108, 10.1016/j.jsv.2019.06.023
[19] Zhang, Y., et al., Active Control of Cables with Piezoelectric Actuation Considering Geometric and Material Nonlinearities, Engineering Structures, 340 (2025), 120773, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120773
[20] Genao, F. Y., et al., Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Temperature-Dependent Functionally Graded Porous Micro-Plates Under Thermal and Mechanical Loads, Composite Structures, 256 (2021), 112931, 10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.112931
[21] Guo, X., et al., Nonlinear Thermo-Electro-Mechanical Analysis of Piezoelectric Laminated Composite Beams Considering Strong Electric Field, Engineering Structures, 325 (2025), 11945, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.119457
[22] Zhang, Y., et al., Nonlinear Thermo-Electro-Mechanical Responses and Active Control of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Plates Subjected to Strong Electric Fields, Thin-Walled Structures, 205 (2024): 112375, 10.1016/j.tws.2024.112375
[23] Zhang, Y., et al., Vibration Control of Membrane Structures by Piezoelectric Actuators Considering Piezoelectric Nonlinearity Under Strong Electric Fields, Engineering Structures, 315 (2024), 118413, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.118413
[24] Zhang, Y., et al., Nonlinear Dynamic Response and Stability of Piezoelectric Shells with Piezoelectric Nonlinearities, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 304 (2025), 110731, 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2025.110731
[25] Zhang, Y., et al., Nonlinear Dynamic Response of Functionally Graded Plates with Piezoelectric Non-linearity, European Journal of Mechanics-A/Solids, 114 (2025), 105776, 10.1016/j.euromechsol.2025.105776
[26] Wu, Y., et al., Active control of Cable Vibration Using Piezoelectric Actuators Considering Strong Electric Field Nonlinearity, Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies, 12 (2024), June, pp. 935-947, 10.1007/s42417-024-01455-4
[27] Reddy, J., Analysis of Functionally Graded Plates, Internat. J. Numer. Methods Engrg., 47 (2000), 1-3, pp. 663-684
[28] Song, M., et al., Buckling and Postbuckling of Biaxially Compressed Functionally Graded Multilayer Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Polymer Composite Plates, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 131 (2017), Oct., pp. 345-355, 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2017.07.017
[29] Zheng, J., et al., On the Asymmetric Thermal Stability of FGM Annular Plates Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets, Engineering with Computers, 38 (2022), Suppl 5, pp. 4569-4581, 10.1007/s00366-021-01463-y
[30] Yang, Z., et al., Coupled Dynamic Instability of Graphene Platelet-Reinforced Dielectric Porous Arches Under Electromechanical Loading, Thin-Walled Structures, 197 (2024), 111534, 10.1016/j.tws.2023.111534
PDF VERSION [DOWNLOAD]
Mechanical behavior of layered and functional graphene material distributions under thermo-mechanical loading

© 2026 Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia. Published by the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International licence