An isogeometric approach to supersonic flutter analysis of lightweight-designed plates with graphene reinforcement

In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on implementing high-performance, lightweight designs in a wide range of contemporary interdisciplinary applications. The primary objective of this paper, therefore, is to present a NURBS-based isogeometric approach for a comprehensive investigation into the supersonic flutter characteristics of graphene-reinforced functionally graded (FG) metal foam plates. The lightweight structures are designed using a combination of two porosity distributions and two graphene dispersion patterns, featuring both uniform and non-uniform configurations. The mathematical equations governing the dynamic behavior of the porous plates are derived using a computational approach based on generalized higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) within a NURBS-based isogeometric analysis (IGA). A first-order approximation of piston theory is employed to model the fluid–structure interaction by estimating the aerodynamic forces induced by high-speed airflow. The accuracy of the current approach is assessed and validated against the analytical approach and other existing benchmark results. Several extensive parametric investigations are subsequently conducted to fulfill the primary goal of this research: to clarify the influence of internal porosity and graphene nanofiller on the flutter boundaries and associated vibrational modes of lightweight-designed plate structures. The obtained results demonstrate that graphene-reinforced FG cellular plates possess exceptional properties, such as high stiffness and reduced weight, making them well-suited for advanced technological applications. Furthermore, the present findings offer valuable insights that can assist in the design and fabrication, with the goal of improving the robustness and efficacy of future practical engineering structures.