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Modelling evidence of stress concentration mitigation at the micro-scale in polymer composites by the addition of carbon nanotubes

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

A versatile two-scale model was developed to investigate the use of carbon nanotubes for re-distribution and, eventually, suppression of stress concentrations on the micro-level in fiber-reinforced composites. With this model a variety of CNT assemblies could be generated including CNTs dispersed in the matrix, grown on fibers or spatially organized in a network. The presence of CNTs in a composite was found to induce strong heterogeneity in stress fields. CNTs grown on fibers were shown to suppress stress concentrations at the fiber/matrix interface but to increase stresses in resin rich zones between the forests. Agglomerated CNTs were found to behave as stiff microscopic particles leading to additional stress magnification. A promising way to suppress stress concentrations without affecting stresses in the rest of the matrix was to position CNTs in a network that is interdependent with fiber positions.
Journal: Carbon
ISSN: 0008-6223
Issue: C
Volume: 82
Pages: 184 - 194
Publication year:2015
BOF-keylabel:yes
IOF-keylabel:yes
BOF-publication weight:6
CSS-citation score:2
Authors from:Higher Education
Accessibility:Closed