Abstract—Multi-scale material modeling was used to investigate the role of nanotubes specifications on the nonlinear tensile behavior of nanocomposites. Particularly, the effect of diameter, chirality and volume fraction of nonlinearly modeled SWCNTs is studied on their composites. Multi-scale modeling is applied to assemble various RVEs composed of different SWCNTs embedded in polymer. Nanotubes are modeled in continuum mechanics based on their atomic structures in the case of space frame structures. Elements in this structure are defined in such a way to resemble carbon bonds characteristics in molecular mechanics. Polymer portion of RVE is modeled as a linear elastic continuum material, regarding the modeling convenience. Attained stress-strain curves of modeled nanocomposites revealed that using Armchair SWCNTs in RVEs rather than Zigzags makes nanocomposites tougher in tensile loading. Also diameter of CNT has an inverse effect on the stress-strain curves level. Using CNTs with lower diameter in RVEs, regardless of the chirality and CNTs type, make nanocomposites more strengthen in tension. Furthermore, the effect of diameter is more obvious in higher volume fraction of CNTs.
Index Terms—Carbon nanotubes, Multi-scale modeling, Nanocomposites, Tensile behavior.
S. M. R. Khalili is the head of Center of Excellence for Research in Advanced Materials and Structures, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, 19991-43344, Iran(corresponding author to provide phone: (+9821) 84063208; fax: (+9821)88674748; e-mail: smrkhalili2005@gmail.com).
A. Haghbin is with the Center of Excellence for Research in Advanced Materials and Structures, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. (e-mail: haghbin.a@gmail.com).
Cite: S.M.R. Khalili and A. Haghbin, "Multi-scale Modeling of Nonlinear Tensile Behavior in Single-walled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Nanocomposites," International Journal of Modeling and Optimization vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 199-204, 2011.
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