| Abstract: | The concept of a ‘Representative Volume Model’ is used in combination with ‘Equivalent Mechanical Strain’ or Aboudi's ‘Average Strain’ theorem to illustrate how a carbon nanotube reinforced composite material constitutive law for a nano‐composite material can be implemented into a finite element program for modeling structural applications. Current methods of modeling each individual composite layer to build up an element composed of carbon nanotube reinforced composite material may not be the best approach for modeling structural applications of this composite. The approach presented here is based upon presentations given at the National Science Foundation‐Civil and Mechanical Systems division workshop at John Hopkins University in 2004, which is referred to in this paper as the Williams‐Baxter approach. This approach is also used to demonstrate that damage modeling can be included as was suggested in this workshop. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
