Evaluation of elastic properties of multi walled carbon nanotube reinforced composite

• Published in: Computational materials science Vol. 81; pp. 332 - 338
• Main Authors: Joshi, Preeti, Upadhyay, S.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon; Composites; Compressing; Effective material properties; Exact sciences and technology; FEM; Finite element method; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Mathematical models; Matrix materials; Mechanical properties; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Nano-composites; Nanocomposites; Physical properties; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Properties and testing; Stiffness; Technology of polymers; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Representative volume element; Nano-composites; Volume fraction; Elasticity; Carbon nanotubes; Aspect ratio; Compression test; Tension test; Composite material; FEM; Finite element method; Singlewalled nanotube; Multiwalled nanotube; Styrene polymer; Continuum mechanics; Nanocomposite; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Stiffness; Effective material properties; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0927-0256; 1879-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.commatsci.2013.08.034

•Load transfer in multi-walled carbon nanotube composites is estimated.•Continuum model is used to evaluate the effective material properties using FEM.•Multi-walled carbon nanocomposite provide better material properties in compression as compared in tension.•Short multi-walled carbon nanotubes are not as effective longer ones in reinforcing the composite. Exceptional mechanical properties like high strength, stiffness and aspect ratio exhibited by carbon nanotubes, make them ideal reinforcements for nanocomposites. In this paper load transfer in multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites is studied under tension and compression loading conditions. Continuum mechanics model is used to evaluate the effective material properties using a representative volume element (RVE) approach. Numerical results are obtained using Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and these results have been validated with rule of mixture results. FEM results are found to be quite closer to the results obtained from rule of mixture. In the present work we have considered a range of matrix material, the range covers the matrix material from metal to polymer, i.e. taken in a form of the ratio of effective modulus of elasticity of CNT to that of matrix material Et/Em from 5 to 200. With the addition of the multi-walled CNT in a matrix at the volume fractions of 5.1%, the stiffness of the composite is increased by 46% for compressive loading and 14.9% for tensile loading, as compared with that of the matrix in the case of long CNT at Et/Em=10. Multi-walled carbon nanocomposite are found to provide better value of young’s modulus in compression as compared in tension, this is due to the higher inter-tube load transfer in compression. Comparative evaluation of material properties with single walled carbon nanocomposite is also done. It is established that multi-walled carbon nanotube composite provide a better resistance against compression as compared to single walled carbon nanotube composite. Effect of change in diameter and length of multi-walled carbon nanotube on stiffness of nanocomposite have also been investigated. Longer multi-walled carbon nanotubes are found to be more effective in reinforcing the composite as compared to shorter ones. FEM results are also found to be in close approximation with the experimental results, which validates the current model.