|
|||||
|
|
Parametric numerical simulation of impact response of carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites |
|
| Authors: | A K Manta |
| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Technology and Strength of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering &2. Aeronautics, University of Patras, Rion 26500, Greece;3. I-Composites Lab, School of Materials, University of Manchester, James Lighthill Building, Sackville Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK |
| Abstract: | A numerical model has been developed using the explicit FE code LS-DYNA in order to study the effect of geometrical and material parameters on the low-velocity impact response of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer nanocomposites. The model is based on a Representative Volume Element (RVE). The RVE is prismatic with a rectangular cross-section while the impactor is spherical. The simulations show that the presence of CNT significantly enhances the impact stiffness and the energy absorption capacity of the material. The enhancement increases with the CNT's volume fraction and it is larger at larger impact velocities. The effect of CNT's aspect ratio is found to be minor. The orthotropic behaviour of CNT assigns the RVE a higher energy absorption capacity than the isotropic behaviour at small impact velocities. The prediction of impact damage at large impact velocities indicates that the CNT makes the polymer more susceptible to fracture. |
| Keywords: | Carbon nanotubes Impact response Finite element analysis Representative volume element |