Geometrically nonlinear analysis of graphene-reinforced bioinspired architectures-based microplates

Abstract

Nature-inspired metamaterials with tunable mechanical properties have recently emerged as an excellent design solution for engineering applications in diverse fields. Establishing mathematical models for analyzing such intriguing materials, however, remains to ongoing challenge. This study represents the first attempt to evaluate the size-dependent nonlinear bending characteristics of graphene-reinforced triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS)-based microplates. We employ a computational approach that integrates four-variable refined plate theory and modified couple stress theory within the framework of NURBS-based isogeometric analysis to assess the nonlinear behavior of advanced microplates. Theoretical models of three typical sheet-based TPMS architectures, i.e. Primitive, Gyroid, and IWP (I-graph and Wrapped Package-graph), with uniform and two gradient porosity distributions, are considered. Additionally, the mechanical performance of cellular TPMS architectures is enhanced by the graphene-reinforcing phase with three different distribution patterns. Efficient homogenization models are here adopted to evaluate the effective mechanical characteristics of advanced cellular composite materials. For the first time, the complicated relationship between structural parameters and size-dependent nonlinear bending behavior concerning distribution types of porosity and graphene is presented and discussed in detail. This study represents a remarkable step towards exploring the intricate nonlinear mechanical responses of graphene-reinforced TPMS microplates as well as offering promising prospects for future designs utilizing lightweight bio-inspired metamaterials.