In this research, the effect of CaCO3 nanoparticles was experimentally investigated on vibrational damping behavior and static mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP). Hammer tests along with modal analysis were carried out to evaluate the forced vibration behavior of composite plates under one edge clamped support conditions while tensile tests were performed to assess the static mechanical properties. A comparison of the results showed an increment in the static mechanical properties of nanocomposites by increasing the nanoparticles content in the PP matrix. Composite with 10 wt.% nanoparticles showed the highest rise in Young’s modulus (39.71 %) compared to pure PP. An increment in Young’s modulus and stiffness led to an increasing trend in the damped natural frequencies of the nanocomposites so that the composite with 10 wt. % nanoparticles showed the highest damped natural frequency augmentation (23.6 %, 36.78 %, and 252.62 %) compared to pure PP in the first three modes. In addition, an enhancement in the nanoparticles content of the PP matrix led to an increasing trend in damping ratios of the nanocomposites such that the composite with 10 wt. % nanoparticles in the first mode (28.99 %) and composite with 7.5 wt. % nanoparticles in the second and third modes (418.66 % and 9.93 %) showed the highest rise in damping ratio compared to pure PP. Increasing damping ratios can be due to the proper dispersion of nanoparticles in the matrix and consequently energy dissipation of the stick-slip mechanism between the matrix and nanoparticles. Moreover, high nanoparticle contents had destructive effects on both the static and dynamic behavior of the composites. Manuscript profile

In this study, the size-dependent free vibration analysis of a geometrically imperfect single-layer graphene sheet (SLGS) is studied by an isogeometric approach along with the quasi-3D shear and normal deformation theory. Initial geometric imperfections alter the natural frequencies of the graphene sheets that may exist inherently or purposely created by researchers. The initial curvature is modelled by an analytical function in the governing Equations of the plate. A 4-variable quasi-3D theory with a seventh-order distribution function is used to include both shear deformation and thickness stretching influences. A weak form of a nonlocal plate for free vibration analysis is derived that requires the first-order continuity of the displacement fields. Inherent high-order continuity of non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) basis functions in isogeometric analysis can meet this condition. A comparison between the present study and other published works reveals the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method in imperfect SLGS. The results of the present study show a significant effect of initial geometric imperfection on the natural frequency of single-layer graphene sheets. Manuscript profile