A review on the mechanics of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced structures

Graphene nanoplatelets (GPL) are becoming an emerging nanofiller in the field of nanocomposites due to the ease and low cost of manufacturing, which have made it a preferred reinforcing element compared to graphene and other graphene derivatives. In the recent years, an increasing amount of literature has been published on GPL reinforced materials and structures, with a considerable amount of attention focused on GPL reinforced beam, plate, and shell structures. With the purpose of consolidating recent research undertaken into the study of the mechanical behaviour of GPL reinforced composite (GPLRC), this article reviews the mechanics of GPLRC beam, plate, and shell structures. More specifically, it provides a brief introduction into graphene, GPL, functionally graded materials, porous materials, and micro/nanostructures. Then, it presents an inclusive literature review on the theoretical analysis and the numerical formulation of linear and nonlinear behaviour of GPL reinforced macro/micro/nanostructures, focusing on the bending, buckling, and dynamic characteristics. Experimental analysis performed on GPLRC are also reviewed, addressing different aspects of the reinforcement of GPL. Finally, a summary of the findings in this field along with potential future applications for research and experimentation is provided. An overview to address the methodologies in studies covered in this review paper is provided as an appendix.