Dynamic instability and nonlinear response analysis of nanocomposite sandwich arches with viscoelastic cores

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the nonlinear dynamic behavior and snap-through phenomena in sandwich arch structures with viscoelastic cores and carbon nanotube-reinforced nanocomposite face sheets. Subjected to uniform time-dependent pressure shocks, these arches exhibit complex snap-through behavior critical for practical engineering applications. Utilizing third-order shear deformation theory, the study accurately captures nonlinear behaviors. The viscoelastic core, modeled with the Kelvin-Voigt law, enhances damping and reduces vibration amplitudes. Numerical solutions are obtained using a Chebyshev-based Ritz method, Newmark integration, and Newton-Raphson method. The Budiansky-Ruth criterion evaluates dynamic buckling loads. Key findings include significant instability near buckling loads, increased buckling loads and vibration damping due to viscoelastic effects, reduced buckling loads with foam cores, improved performance with CNTs, and more pronounced CNT effects with greater deflections. Additional conclusions highlight the sensitivity of dynamic snap-through to geometric parameters and the superior accuracy of the proposed approach compared to traditional models. This research advances the understanding and design strategies for nonlinear sandwich arch structures, enhancing predictive capabilities in complex structural systems.