A hybrid CPU–GPU solver based on three-dimensional spectral Chebyshev technique for determining the dynamic behavior of thick sandwich panels

In this study, static and vibration behavior of a curved thick sandwich-structured composite composed of a honeycomb core layer and two face-sheets reinforced with carbon nanotubes is investigated. The governing equations are derived using three-dimensional elasticity equations and Hamilton’s principle. The problem domain is discretized following Gauss–Lobatto sampling approach. To numerically solve the governing equations, a spectral method based on Chebyshev polynomials is used and a CPU–GPU based hybrid solver is developed. The presented approach is validated by comparing the predicted natural frequencies and deformation of the structure to those obtained from finite element analysis. The results show that in-house CPU–GPU based spectral solution approach decreases the computational duration remarkably and predicts the dynamic and static behavior of the system accurately. Since composite materials offer great flexibility in tailoring the dynamic behavior of the structure, an optimization study is also performed to benefit from the developed computationally efficient solver. In this study, the CNT orientations are selected as design variables to maximize the fundamental frequency of the structure. Based on the analyzed cases for different thickness ratios, curvature amounts, volume content, and distributions of CNTs, it is shown that the vibration behavior of the structure can be significantly tailored.