Constitutive modeling of nanotubereinforced polymer composites

This paper explains and presents a technique for developing constitutive models of polymer composite systems reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In order to understand the mechanical behavior of nanotube/polymer better, an equivalent-continuum model in conjunction with established micromechanical models can be used. These micromechanical models assume that the fiber and matrix are continuous materials and the constitutive equations for the composite material are based on assumptions of continuum mechanics. However, nanotube-reinforced polymers, a typical single-walled nanotube may have a diameter of approximately 110 x 10^-9 m, compared to the typical carbon-fiber diameter of 50 x 10^-6 m, which leads to a breakdown of the rules and requirements for continuum modeling. Thus, it would be inappropriate to use the micromechanical model without first taking into account the effects of size difference between a nanotube and a typical carbon fiber. The continuum model must account for the fundamental assumption in continuum mechanics that the conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy can be applied to a model to derive differential equations describing the behavior of objects. Carbon nanotubes are elongated, nanosized carbon particles consisting of cylindrical graphitic layers. Pure single-walled nanotubes (SWNT) have a high Youngs modulus, around 1.25 TPa. In this technique, PmPV (poly(mphenylenevinylene) is used as the nanotube/polymer interface because PmPV molecules naturally wrap around CNTs in a helical pattern offering improved load transfer at the polymer/nanotube interface. This method is preferred over the covalent bonding method. The steps involved in generating the model are as follows: Firstly, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations a model of the molecular structure of the nanotube and the adjacent polymer chains is created Secondly, Second, an equivalent-continuum model is developed in which the mechanical properties are determined based on the force constants Finally, the equivalent-continuum model is used in micromechanical analyses to determine the bulk constitutive properties of the SWNT/polymer composite

Nanoreinforced polymer composites: 3D FEM modeling with effective interface concept

This paper presents a computational study of the effects of nanocomposites structures on its elastic properties. Nanostructured polymers, formed by addition of small amount of nanoparticles have much better mechanical properties than the common polymers, and can be used eventually as matrix in the fiber reinforced composites. Our aim in this study is to simulate the behavior of nanocomposites by generating 3D micromechanical FE model. Some of the effects which need to be accounted for are the effects of interface on the nanocomposite properties, the effect of nanoclay distribution, high aspect ratio and clustered reinforcement. The mechanical behavior of nanoreinforcement as compared with microreinforcement is that the properties of the interface between the nanoparticles and the matrix play an important role. Thus, a method called effective interface model (EIM) propsed by Odegard is used in order to generalize the micromechanical models of composites onto nanocomposites. Then a program code for the automatic generation of 3D unit cell models of nanocomposites was generated. Lastly, the effects of interface properties on the elastic properties composites were carried out with the help of a numerical experiment. Further analysis was carried out to study the effect of clustering, orientation and shapes of nanoparticles on the elastic properties of composites. It is learnt that the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite improve with increasing the particle size up to the particle size 100 (radius), however the particle size has no influence on the elastic properties of the composite.

Modelling stiffness of polymer/clay nanocomposites

This paper discusses the implications of producing a nanocomposite of less stiffness for the processing of nanoclay polymer composites. The purpose of this paper is to explore the limits of the M-T model by comparing its stiffness predictions to the finite element analyses model. The finite element model assumes the particles to have a constant thickness whereas the M-T model assumes the particles as an oblate spheroid. After performing analysis it is found that the 2D finite element model is not sufficient to accurately predict the stiffness of nanoclay polymer composites for both random and aligned particles. Therefore, a 3D finite element model is used instead which is more consistent with the M-T model. The reason being that in 3D there is stiffening in the both axial and transverse directions, whereas in 2D stiffening can only occur in the axial direction. The comparison between the M-T model and the 3D FEM gives us two results depending on the particle orientation. In the aligned case, M-T model gives a very good prediction of the elastic modulus for low volume fractions (1-5%). At larger volume fractions, M-T model underestimates the elastic modulus, since it does not account for the interaction between particles. The 3D FEM, however, does model the interaction between particles and therefore predicts a higher composite elastic modulus. For the randomly oriented case, the M-T model is limited due to inconsideration of formation of clusters of nearly parallel particles.

Lightning Strike Protection for Composite Structures

Lightning strike is a major concern which needs to be dealt when using composites, because of their low electrical conductivity. When lightning bolt strikes an aircraft, it carries up to 200,000 amps of current which can cause severe damage such as vaporize metal control cables, weld hinges on control surfaces and explode fuel vapors within fuel tanks if current arcs through gaps around fasteners. There are two ways a lightning can affect an aircraft. Direct effects include vaporization of resin in the immediate strike area, with possible burn-through of the laminate. Indirect effects occur when magnetic fields and electrical potential differences in the structure induce transient voltages, which can damage and even destroy onboard electronics that have not been electromagnetic field shielded. To avoid damage done due to a lightning strike, LSP methods can be employed. LSP methods have three goals namely to provide adequate conductive paths so that lightning current remains on the exterior of the aircrafts structure; to eliminate gaps in this conductive path to prevent arcing at attachment points and ignition of fuel vapors; and protect wiring, cables and electronic equipment from damaging surges through careful grounding. The researchers in Luxembourg, in cooperation with scientists from the Netherlands, have studied the electrical percolation of carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix and shown the percolation threshold, the point at which the polymer composite becomes conductive, can be considerably lowered if small quantities of conductive polymer latex are added.

References:
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/2012_q4/4/

Fiedler, B., Gojny, F. H., Wichmann, M. H. G., Nolte, M. C. M., and Schulte, K., Fundamental Aspects of Nano-Reinforced Composites, Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 66, 2005, pp. 3115-3125. http://wwwen.uni.lu/university/news/latest_news/research_finding_published_in_nature_nanotechnology