Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being used extensively as reinforcing materials in polymer matrix composites because of their high strength, stiffness and resilience, as well as superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Incorporating CNTs in polymer matrix composites can potentially enhance the strength and stiffness of composites significantly. In this paper, the effective elastic properties of nanocomposites (CNTs/Epoxy) at different volume fractions of CNTs and multiscale composites (Glass/CNTs/Epoxy) at 5% volume fraction of CNTs are evaluated using finite element method (FEM). 3-D finite element models using square representative volume element (RVE) incorporating necessary boundary conditions are developed. For validity the obtained results are compared with that of classical theories of equivalent material properties. Good agreement between them has been observed. Further the effect of CNTintegration in fiber-reinforced composites (three-phase) is also studied.
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