Open Access
ARTICLE
Simulation Analysis on Mechanical Property Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Dan Li1, Li Ding1, Zhengang Liu2, Qiang Li3, Kaiyun Guo1, Hailin Cao1,4,*
1 Shenzhen Academy of Aerospace Technology, Shenzhen, 518057, China
2 Shanghai Aerospace Control Technology Institute, Shanghai, 201109, China
3 Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, Shanghai, 201109, China
4 Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China
* Corresponding Author: Hailin Cao. Email:
Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2020, 125(1), 145-171. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2020.010822
Received 01 April 2020; Accepted 31 July 2020; Issue published 18 September 2020
Abstract
Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced composites have ultra-high
elastic moduli, low densities, and fibrous structures. This paper presents the
multi-scale finite element modeling of CNT-reinforced polymer composites
from micro- to macro-scales. The nanocomposites were modeled using representative volume elements (RVEs), and finite element code was written to simulate the modeling and loading procedure and obtain equivalent mechanical
properties of the RVEs with various volume fractions of CNTs, which can be
used directly in the follow-up simulation studies on the macroscopic model of
CNT-reinforced nanocomposites. When using the programming to simulate
the deformation and fracture process of the CNT-reinforced epoxy composites, the mechanical parameters and stress-strain curves of the composites on
the macro-scale were obtained by endowing the elements of the lattice models
with RVE parameters. Tensile experiments of the CNT-reinforced composites
were also carried out. The validity of the finite element simulation method
was verified by comparing the results of the simulations and experiments.
Finite element models of functionally graded CNT-reinforced composites
(FG-CNTRC) with different distributions were established, and the tensile
and three-point-bending conditions for various graded material models were
simulated by the methods of lattice model and birth-death element to obtain
the tensile and bending parameters. In addition, the influence of the distribution and volume ratio of the CNTs on the performance of the graded
composite material structures was also analyzed.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Li, D., Ding, L., Liu, Z., Li, Q., Guo, K. et al. (2020). Simulation Analysis on Mechanical Property Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Epoxy Composites.
CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 125(1), 145–171. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2020.010822
Citations