Investigation of Crack Resistance in Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer Composites Based on FEM

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) is considered as a new generation of material possessing superior mechanical, <br />thermal and electrical properties. The applications of CNT, especially in composite materials, i.e. carbon <br />nanotube reinforced polymer have received great attention and interest in recent years. To characterize the <br />influence of CNT on the stress intensity factor of nanocomposites, three fracture modes (opening, shearing <br />and tearing) are considered. The stress intensity factor of nanocomposites is evaluated using a representative <br />volume element (RVE) based on the continuum mechanics and finite element method (FEM). Inter-atomic <br />interactions of CNT are simulated by beam elements in the finite element (FE) model. Non-linear springbased <br />line elements are employed to simulate the van der Waals (vdW) bonds. In all fracture modes, the <br />stress intensity factor was determined for pure matrix and matrix reinforced with single-walled carbon <br />nanotube (SWCNT). Numerical results indicate that the load carrying capacities of the CNTs in a matrix <br />are evident. Addition of CNTs in a matrix can increase the stiffness of the composite. Finally, the results <br />showed that utilizing of SWCNT decreased the stress intensity factor and improved crack resistance.